McCann offered new deal

“One cap wonder” Gavin McCann will be offered a new deal after today being hailed by manager Martin O’Neill as Villa’s unsung hero. The 28-year-old midfielder, who played in Sven Goran Eriksson’s first England game, but was then discarded, has emerged from a nightmare last season under David O’Leary to play a key role in O’Neill’s revitalised side.

McCann was dogged by knee trouble for much of the last campaign, but, like fellow seniors Olof Mellberg and Juan Pablo Angel, is now in O’Neill’s plans to be kept on at Villa.

The new boss has already fought off Portsmouth to tie down Gareth Barry and is currently weighing up further extended stays for McCann & Co.

He says: “There are a number of players who we’d look at, but lots of boys are playing well.

“Gavin McCann has been terrific, so one of the first things you would want to do is keep him.

“He’s a really talented footballer. In all the hype going on with attention on the younger lads and Stiliyan Petrov arriving, McCann has been overlooked.”

McCann is another of the O’Leary signings now prospering as another, keeper Thomas Sorensen, confirmed he almost quit as the club headed towards a “dead end” under O’Leary.

“I would be lying if I said that I was not thinking of leaving Villa,” said Sorensen as he awaited the medical verdict on a shoulder injury which could keep him out of Saturday’s Spurs game.

“Last season I didn’t know where we were heading as the spirit was gone.”

By Martin Swain