Get off Samuel's back, O'Leary tells fans

David O’Leary has urged Aston Villa’s fans not to verbally abuse defender Jlloyd Samuel, who could make a rare appearance in today’s FA Cup clash against Port Vale.

Samuel is third-choice left-back this season after the summer signing of Wilfred Bouma.

When the Dutchman has been injured, O’Leary has opted to drop Gareth Barry back from midfield rather than recall Samuel.

But the former England Under-21 player is likely to play in the fourth-round tie as Barry is suspended.

O’Leary is hoping fans will get behind Samuel rather than repeat the boos which have accompanied his appearance on previous occasions this season.

O’Leary said: “Fans giving player stick doesn’t help anyone. It has never helped anyone. You need the home fans to encourage the players.”

Samuel is resigned to a future away from Villa and is being linked with his former club Charlton where he was a schoolboy.

He admitted: “It is something I would definitely look at if it came up. Alan Curbishley is a very good manager. He’s seen something that he likes and, if something does come along, then I would listen to what they have to say.

“I want to play regular football and if it means elsewhere, then so be it.”

O’Leary is unable to sign any players during the January transfer window and was forced to send on-loan midfielder Eirik Bakke back to Leeds for financial reasons.

But he is optimistic of not having to make anymore cutbacks before the window closes and would like to hold onto unsettled players such as Eric Djemba-Djemba and Ulises de la Cruz to maintain the size of his squad.

He said: “It would be a big blow if any of them were to go.”