Delfouneso ready to face Chelsea
Friday 26th March 2010, 11:59AM GMT.
Rookie striker Nathan Delfouneso has assured Martin O’Neill he is up to the task of tackling Chelsea if the Villa boss gives him the nod.
The academy reared 19-year-old is waiting to see if the combination of injuries and the manager’s faith will grant him the biggest moment of his career in a starting role against the title-chasers in the Premier League clash tomorrow.
Delfouneso replaced injured Emile Heskey in Wednesday’s Sunderland match as the latest pacy forward to come off the Villa production line.
And if Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor are ruled out by injuries tomorrow, the young striker is the most likely replacement.
He said: “I’d like to think I am up to the job. I’m confident every time I step on to the pitch and I think I’ll be able to maintain good performances.
“If I am needed I’m confident I can do a job for the team. All games are hard and it’s just one of those situations where you’ve got to look at it as we’ve not lost two games and that we’ve gained two points.
“We’re still pushing, we’re still up there. We’ve got to stay confident and keep going.”
Who plays up front is just one of the difficulties facing O’Neill, who also has injury doubts about Richard Dunne and James Milner.
All the casualties of Villa’s gruelling schedule went for scans yesterday, the results of which will be studied today.
O’Neill is hoping one more effort from his players can carry them over this hurdle, before they face a two-week stretch leading up to the FA Cup semi-final against the same opponents with only the Bolton away match to face.
UK Sport
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