Villa boss Martin O’Neill believes James Milner has proven he is worth every penny of his £12million club record transfer fee.

The right winger became the club’s most expensive signing when he arrived from Newcastle in August.

O’Neill saw former Nottingham Forest team-mate and Birmingham legend Trevor Francis respond to becoming the first £1million player by scoring the winning goal in a European Cup final.

The manager has not seen any signs of 22-year-old Milner being overawed by his hefty fee.

O’Neill said: “James has not been affected, not at all. He knew the scene here before from his loan season, although the training ground is new.

“He settled in very quickly. The fee would not have bothered him in the slightest. He would be the first one to say ‘you paid it, not me’. To me he has justified it.

“Players can crumble when they cost a big fee. It is all right a player saying ‘someone else paid it,’ but you have been given a valuation and for a while you have to cope with that.

“Trevor Francis became the first £1million player and he said himself that, while it was a great honour, it was a bit uncomfortable for a few weeks until you get used to it.

“Having said that, he only scored the winning goal in the European Cup final.”

Milner has started every Premier League game since getting his chance against Portsmouth in October and that run is set to continue against Hull on Monday, in a game which offers Villa the chance to virtually guarantee automatic qualification for the Europa League.

The England under-21 star is one of the players to have been given extra time off this week, after showing signs of fatigue against Bolton last Saturday but O’Neill insists that is perfectly understandable.

O’Neill said: “James has done splendidly in a role which is really physically demanding.

“But he has got a big heart and the work he has done in getting back and covering has been terrific. In the last couple of games, he has looked a little tired.

“I am not surprised because the season catches up with you.”

The manager has challenged Milner to make the plane for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

O’Neill said: “Can he challenge for the World Cup squad? I don’t see why not and that should be his driving ambition, to play well for us to get himself into that squad,.

“But, if the comments I hear and read are correct, I think the England manager likes James – so it is up to him to go and show it.

“What I don’t want James and other players to do is to put themselves under unnecessary pressure next season, by being at a game where everyone knows that the England manager is there and think it might be make or break.

“I would rather they be judged over a three, four, five-month period rather than one game. But I think the England manager is too experienced to do that.”