Martin O’Neill has hinted he could be ready to reward some of Villa’s title-winning rookies the chance to prove they are first-team material.

Monday night’s win over Albion ensured Kevin MacDonald’s reserve team won the FA Premier Reserve League South for a second successive season.

Teenage trio Nathan Delfouneso, Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan, currently on loan at Derby, have all featured regularly for the reserves this season and gone on to make their first-team debuts.

A production line which has produced the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner does not look like stopping there, with Ciaran Clark and James Collins among those who have earned rave reviews for their displays for Villa’s second string.

O’Neill expects some of them to be ‘knocking on the door’ soon.

He said: “I’m very pleased for the reserves. It is a continuation of the youth team of last season and that is really pleasing.

“It augers well. We will have a look at the young players and will see how they are next season.

“As you can see with Barry Bannan, I have no problem in loaning players out to real sensible clubs who might look after them and improve them.

“One or two, I am hoping, will be knocking on the door more quickly than others. It’s all very encouraging.”

After losing to Liverpool in last year’s national play-off final, Villa’s reserves will now look to go one better against North league winners Sunderland on May 21 at Villa Park.

O’Neill believes the reserves’ consistently high results are a testament to MacDonald’s work.

The manager said: “Winning the title was great. I could not be happier and I am delighted for Kevin, who on any given Monday evening can be left with anything.

“I’ve said to him: ‘No, he’s not playing’ and he has got on with it. We have won the league for the second consecutive year.

“The play has been terrific, we have now got over the line and are looking forward to the game against Sunderland.”