Downing fit to face former suitors

8053827 Fit-again Villa winger Stewart Downing is ready to be unleashed and has warned Tottenham – ‘You won’t be scoring nine against us!’

After a substitute appearance at Burnley last weekend and a 75-minute run-out for the reserves in midweek, Downing is in contention to make his first start since swapping Middlesbrough for the Midlands this summer.

Ironically, lying in wait tomorrow are Spurs – the side involved in an acrimonious tug-of-war with Boro for his services in January.

Downing is desperate to finally make his claret and blue home bow after a frustrating six months on the sidelines – leaving Martin O’Neill with a huge selection dilemma.

The Villa manager already has England duo James Milner and Ashley Young manning the wings but with both they and Downing hugely versatile, the Northern Irishman could slot any of the trio into more central roles.

Steve Sidwell’s place in the side looks particularly under threat, but O’Neill may opt to take a softly, softly approach with his new signing and ease him back in.

Either way, Downing is just relieved to be fit again.

He said: “I am enjoying it. It’s great to be back involved and playing football again. It beats slogging away in the gym. The injury was obviously frustrating but I think what helped me were the surroundings of a new club, new people – it’s been good.

“The rehab has been great and the lads have been super with me. It was strange joining a club when you’re injured but I am ready to play now.

“I have had to be patient. I couldn’t have been any more patient in fact. With injuries, it’s vital you don’t rush them because you could easily get a setback.

“But everything has gone well. I am feeling good and hopefully I can be involved again against Tottenham.”

Harry Redknapp’s team currently stand between fifth-placed Villa and a place in the Champions League spots and a win for Villa would see them pull level on points with the North Londoners.

Confidence in the Spurs camp is certain to be soaring following their their 9-1 massacre of Wigan last weekend. But with Villa unbeaten at home since the opening day – when, ironically, they lost to the Latics – Downing insists they have plenty of cause for confidence too.

Downing has told Redknapp’s boys to forget about another goal rush.

He said: “I am excited about this weekend but then again everyone is. How can you not be when two good teams go head-to-head? We are both looking for that top-four spot. They are playing well and we’re doing well to.

“But it’s a one-off game and it’s about who wants it most on the day. We have done well at home and I’m sure our lads are positive and relishing the challenge. I am confident we can get a result.

“After the goals that have been flying in, you’d expect a goal fest – but it will probably be a goalless draw now! It was a great result for them last weekend, a bit of a freak result but I don’t think they’ll be scoring nine against us.

“We’ll test them because we have players who can score goals and who are very dangerous.”

Downing believes the point snatched on his debut at Turf Moor last weekend could prove vital come the campaign’s conclusion.

He said: “Burnley are a good team, excellent at home, having beaten some really top sides, so it could end up as a good point in the end. There was no feeling your way in that game – it was straight into it because we needed to get a result.”

Defender James Collins is Villa’s only injury concern tomorrow with a groin problem.

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This article was posted on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm.
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