Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Martin O’Neill proud of England boys
Wednesday 2nd June 2010, 9:30AM BST.
Proud boss Martin O’Neill believes Villa can “bask in the reflected glory” of three players making England’s World Cup squad for the first time in the club’s history.
James Milner, Emile Heskey and Stephen Warnock were all included in Fabio Capello’s final 23-man party for South Africa – Warnock’s inclusion ahead of Leighton Baines coming as a shock after the Everton left-back had been preferred in the last three friendlies, all of which the Villa defender failed to feature in.
O’Neill believes the club can take particular satisfaction from Warnock and Milner’s inclusions, with neither established internationals when they arrived at the club from Blackburn and Newcastle respectively.
The manager said: “It really is very, very pleasing that those three are in the final 23 of the England team going to try to win the World Cup.
“Playing for your country is an accolade bestowed on not that many people, so it is a fantastic honour.
“I am sure all three players will be proud of themselves, their family will be very proud but we at Villa are particularly proud of them because they have represented the football club with obvious excellent distinction.
“I think, in particular, Stephen and James came to the football club obviously with decent aspirations of trying to improve as footballers so it’s an ambition realised for both of those players.
“In the case of Emile, he had quite a number of England caps while at other football clubs and so he has been able to draw on all that experience for England to keep himself very much in the limelight.
“As far as we are concerned at Villa, we bask in a bit of reflected glory that all three will be representing their country and hopefully playing a big part in proceedings.”
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