Martin O’Neill has backed Nicky Shorey to become a Villa hit – despite admitting the left-back is yet to ‘get to grips’ with life at his new club.

Shorey was left out of O’Neill’s 18-man squad for Saturday’s victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a week after his error gifted Middlesbrough their opening goal in Villa’s 2-1 defeat.

Regular right-back Luke Young was asked to switch flanks against the Gunners, while Gareth Barry has also been asked to drop back from midfield on occasions.

Even when Shorey has been named in the side he has found himself substituted regularly in the second half of games, often causing a complete reshuffle of Villa’s defence and midfield.

O’Neill admits the £4million summer arrival from Reading was taken out of the firing line while he takes time to adjust.

The manager said: “Nicky will come again. He’s trying to get used to the environment and what I’m asking him to do. He’s a lovely footballer.

“Some of the players have just come in with little pre-season. It’s just a matter of them getting to grips with it and knowing what we want.”

The Villa boss was delighted with the performance of Young, who signed for Villa on the same day as Shorey.

O’Neill said: “For basically a right-back playing at left-back, he did very well indeed. It might have been a real test after the mistake in the first minute against Theo Walcott, but I thought Luke Young coped brilliantly.”