Fledgling fliers Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan have been backed to wing their way into Martin O’Neill’s first-team plans for next season.

The late return of Villa’s international stars has handed the pair a chance to make an early impression in pre-season.

And, after catching the eye out on the flanks at Peterborough and Colchester, they were included in the 26-man squad which has travelled to Spain for the Peace Cup.

Standing between them and a starting berth lie Ashley Young and James Milner and the job will get even harder at the turn of the year when new recruit Stewart Downing returns from injury.

But defender Zat Knight insists the 19-year-old pair, who made their debuts in the UEFA Cup last term, are good enough to play a more prominent role this time out.

“The young lads have done well in the games we’ve played this week,” said Knight. “I was really impressed with the way they coped with the pressure of playing in Europe last season and they’ve looked sharp in training since we came back.

“These boys are the future of Aston Villa. If we can get them coming through the ranks into the first team it would be fantastic.

“We have excellent coaching and academy staff here so they’re in good hands. They just need to keep working hard and I’m sure they’ll do it.

“They’re both old-fashioned wingers, the manager likes that. They like to hog the touchline, try to beat their man and put in crosses. We already have that at Villa with Ashley Young, James Milner and now Stewart Downing.

“The two of them are lucky to have such good players to look up to and if they can learn from them they only have a bright future.

“Marc and Barry have the ability to deliver quality crosses for the likes of Emile (Heskey), John Carew and Gabby (Agbonlahor).”

Left-footer Bannan, who is equally at home in the centre of midfield, insists supporters are yet to see the best of him.

And the Scot, one of the stars of Villa’s Premier Reserve League-winning side, revealed he has already learned some valuable lessons this summer.

“I’m enjoying every minute but I’d like to be playing a little better than I’m playing at the moment,” he added.

“I set high targets and I don’t think I’ve been meeting them in the two games where I’ve been given a chance.

“You’ve got to keep the ball at this game because when you give it away you don’t know when you’re going to get it back.

“So I’ve been trying to keep things simple and then in the final third trying to do a bit. Hopefully the more games I play, the better I’ll get and some of the balls I’ve not been hitting well will come together.

“It’s all about decision making. The higher you go up, the better decisions you’ve got to make.”

Knight, meanwhile, is looking forward to tomorrow’s Peace Cup opener with Malaga but has warned Villa must look beyond the pre-season tournament and remember it’s the Premier League opener with Wigan on August 15 that counts.

“It’s a big cup and they will be good training games,” he added. “There’s a few of the international boys back now so we can step it up.

“I know it’s a cup we want to win but ultimately it’s about getting things right for the Wigan game.

“We will go their focused and put together the things we want to do in the Premier League.”