O’Neill backs Villa duo to fill Beckham void

Martin O’Neill believes the Aston Villa pair of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing can play “very well indeed” in the right-sided midfield role vacated by David Beckham in the England squad.

England manager Fabio Capello effectively ruled Beckham out of his squad for this June’s World Cup finals in South Africa after the midfielder ruptured his Achilles tendon playing for Italian side AC Milan on Sunday.

Villa’s James Milner is likely to be included in Capello’s squad because of his versatility and O’Neill, his club manager, believes Young and Downing could boost the Midlands side’s representation in the England party.

“I don’t know what the England manager had in mind, whether he was going to take David Beckham or not to the World Cup,” O’Neill said Monday.

“The news coming out of the England camp suggests that he was – and therefore it is a blow. He has been a very good player for quite some considerable time.

“On the other hand, as you say, if there is an opportunity there, we have one or two players who actually play and can excel in that position.

“That is down to the England manager.”

The Villa boss added: “I said last week that, if the likes of Ashley and Gabby (Agbonlahor) and players of that ilk, still have designs left on heading to Africa, every single game they play in will be a chance for them to shine.

“I’ve heard that James Milner is in a great position to go, one of the reasons being he can play well in a number of positions.

“When you’ve got a couple of all-purpose players in your squad, that would suit any manager.

“As for the position wide right, there must be three or four candidates that have got a strong chance. My own view is that Ashley can play there very well indeed.

“Stewart Downing can play there very well indeed. I don’t know what the thoughts are (of Capello) but there is still time.”