O'Leary shys away from Baros talk

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary is remaining tight-lipped on the prospect of Liverpool striker Milan Baros moving to Villa Park.

O’Leary had his knuckles rapped last season by the Football Association for comments he made about wanting to sign the then Southampton striker James Beattie.

Villa are known to be seeking to agree a fee with Liverpool for Baros but O’Leary is not being drawn on the bid for the 23-year-old.

On the eve of Villa’s opening Barclays Premiership game of the season at home to Bolton tomorrow, O’Leary said: “I cannot speak about Baros. Last season I was told by the FA not to speak about any player at another club in regard to Aston Villa.

“Baros has not been on the bench in Liverpool’s European games with the papers saying he did not want to be tied down to any situation.”

Villa remain favourites to tempt Baros to Villa Park but in the meantime they will open their Premiership programme with a new striking partnership of Juan Pablo Angel and summer signing Kevin Phillips.

Already O’Leary is full of praise for Phillips since his arrival from Southampton and is convinced Villa can look ahead to a good season if the Angel-Phillips partnership fires on all cylinders.

O’Leary attempted to sign Phillips from Sunderland along with Thomas Sorensen and Gavin McCann two years ago but did not have the money to complete all three deals.

O’Leary added: “Phillips has trained really well since joining Villa and is a good professional.

“You can see how he has looked after himself and he is one of these players who will play on those few extra years.

“But he will be judged at the end of the season at Villa. I think he will get goals for Villa and for £750,000 he will prove a great buy.

“It is, however, going to be a big test for Angel. He wants to make up for last season but only time will tell.

“If we see the Juan Pablo of my first season at the club, we will be in for a lot better season.

“Last season the goals return from our two strikers of nine and three was not good enough.

“The part which really functioned for us was the midfield, who also scored the goals.

“If they share my ambition of where I want Villa to be Angel and Phillips have got to be banging in the goals.

“If the strikers are scoring you will generally win games. Last season we didn’t score enough goals and that is why if Juan Pablo is back to his best form our results will improve.

“From day one he has responded to me and he has had a good pre-season so there are no longer any excuses.

“He is fresh and raring to go. If he does it, and it is in his hands, Villa will be a much better team than last season.”

O’Leary is adamant that Villa are still keen to increase the number of players at Villa Park.

“We lost Thomas Hitzlsperger last season. Patrik Berger has come in as a quality replacement,” said O’Leary.

“I also think that Aaron Hughes will prove to be a valuable asset for £1million and a bit. He has been a solid player for ages and there is more to come.”

It is fortunate that Hughes has been signed from Newcastle as Wales international Mark Delaney is again sidelined.

He is nearly fit to resume training but is to have another specialist examination on Monday to determine the full extent of the knee injury.