Martin O’Neill will send his Villa troops into battle with MSK Zilina tonight with the message: ‘We’ve done the hard work – now let’s win the group’.

Villa lead Group F and a draw against the Slovaks will secure their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

However, O’Neill does not want his team to stop there – insisting it is crucial they finish first in the top two to guarantee they play their second leg at Villa Park.

“We still need a point to qualify,” said O’Neill. 

“Finishing in the top two would be terrific. Ajax and Hamburg can both get nine points, so 10 points will win the group.

“We have done the hard work in beating Ajax. (Slavia) Prague was a great result, now it is a matter of finishing it off.”

Meanwhile, Wigan boss Steve Bruce has responded bullishly to suggestions striker Emile Heskey could be on his way to Villa in January.

He said: “We could maybe get £3m-£4m for him in January, but what would be the point of that when we’re chasing £30m at the end of the season?”

Heskey will be out of contract in the summer and JJB chairman Dave Whelan had suggested that the England man may well be sold in January rather than the Latics losing him for nothing in July.