Steve Sidwell's Fulham move thrown into doubt
Steve Sidwell's move to Fulham was today hanging in the balance - as Martin O'Neill insisted Luke Young could still have a Villa future.
Steve Sidwell's move to Fulham was today hanging in the balance - as Martin O'Neill insisted Luke Young could still have a Villa future.
The Villa manager admitted he was unsure whether Mark Hughes' appointment at Craven Cottage would impact on the midfielder's proposed £3m switch to the Londoners.
Sidwell got his first taste of pre-season action against Walsall on Tuesday and is expected to be involved in tonight's Guadiana Cup opener against Feyenoord at the Vila Real de San Antonio Stadium in Portugal (9.15pm kick-off).
""The manager who was expected to go there - Martin Jol - obviously stayed where he is, so I think that situation is certainly very much still in the balance," said O'Neill.
"With a new manager coming in it might be different. I don't know if that will make things happen more quickly or not.
"Steve Sidwell played against Walsall the other day. I think he's pleased to get some football which is very important."
Another of Villa's available stars, Young, should also be involved after he turned down a move to Liverpool.
Fulham are interested in the right-back but O'Neill, whose team also take on Benfica tomorrow, has left the door open to him having a role if a move fails to materialise.
He added: "If it doesn't happen everybody's in with a fighting chance again. It's not the death knell for anybody.
"He will play in at least one of the games here and it's the same with Steve Sidwell and anybody else in that position.
"I can't start thinking players are going to leave and make assumptions on that, so everybody here will get a proper chance to be as fit as they can so that when the season starts, they've had an opportunity to do that."
The Villa boss has been pleased with the attitude of the up-for-sale group during pre-season.
"At this minute I wouldn't question anybody's attitude, particularly in terms of the training they've been doing."
The James Milner transfer saga is no closer to being resolved but O'Neill revealed dialogue with Manchester City is ongoing.
