Marc Albrighton has already stepped from the shadows to star at Villa – now Kevin MacDonald reckons a host of his other young lions can do the same.

With 10 first-team stars still at home, the caretaker boss is ready to blood a host of the starlets he knows so well from the reserves for tonight’s crunch Europa League play-off first leg against Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital.

And MacDonald has every confidence the likes of Barry Bannan, Ciaran Clark, Eric Lichaj, Andreas Weimann and Nathan Delfouneso can repeat the feat achieved by Albrighton in recent weeks following his meteoric rise to the first team.

Albrighton was outstanding in Saturday’s thrilling win over West Ham, playing a part in all three goals, as he picked up where he left off from a fine pre-season.

The Tamworth terroriser looks a certainty to start against the Green-Whites, who knocked Villa out at this stage last season, and with a host of established names missing, he isn’t the only one of the claret and blues’ fledglings who will get their chance.

MacDonald said: “I’ve got a belief in them because they’ve done well the last couple of years.

“A lot of them have played for their countries at whatever age level. There is no easy places to go abroad, so it will be quite an intimidating atmosphere - let’s see if they can cope with it and that goes for the seniors and youngsters.

“I’ve got a great belief in them and Martin had a great belief in them. He was going to try and introduce a few more of them this year.”

Stiliyan Petrov, Ashley Young, Luke Young have been rested ahead of Sunday’s Newcastle clash, Richard Dunne is suspended, Carlos Cuellar, James Collins, John Carew, Steve Sidwell  and Gabby Agbonlahor are all nursing injuries, while new boy Stephen Ireland missed the deadline to play in the first leg.

MacDonald explained: “A couple have been rested. Stiliyan has done a lot of travelling. He was in Russia last week and we have three games coming up, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday.

“John Carew has an ongoing injury which we have to manage so it would be more beneficial for him to miss a midweek game.

“Luke Young has just been rested because some of the others they’re ready to play so they’re getting that opportunity.”

The absence of so many first teamers is reminiscent of O’Neill’s controversial decision to leave a string of stars at home for the ill-fated UEFA Cup last-32 clash against CSKA Moscow 18 months ago – a move which led to widespread criticism from fans.

Ironically, it was on that night that Albrighton made his debut and MacDonald insists many of the players he plans to call on tonight have matured massively since then.

The caretaker boss said: “Those lads that played a couple of years ago who are in the squad are two years older and have a got a lot more experience.

“To say I would never field a weakened team I don’t know, because I’ve not been in that position.

“I think at the time Martin felt that he had to try and save his players for the push in, it worked out to a certain extent because we finished sixth in the league. But I can’t say yes or no.

“I saw how disappointed the fans were and heard it all but I hope the fans don’t look on this group as being that young.

“Quite a few of them have experience of the first-team. You’re talking about people like Nathan Delfouneso, Barry Bannan and Andreas Weimann, and whether it’s great experience or a lot of experience, it’s some experience.

“I’m not saying they’re ready but they are two years older from when Martin got the backlash.

“Make no mistake I want to stay in this competition. It’s not a waste of time for us. We need to stay in it and that’s the most important thing.

“And I believe this group should be good enough to keep us in it.”

MacDonald revealed O’Neill was in touch with him last week to help with preparations for the Hammers game.

He said: “I spoke to Martin last Wednesday because he had gone to a West Ham game and done a report on it.

“True professional that he is, he phoned me up and gave me his report, how they had played the previous week.”

Asked if O’Neill passed on his best wishes, he replied: “He did that before he left, but the view from myself and Tony McAndrew is that he hasn’t done anything other than try to help us out.”

Vienna-born Weimann, who got his first taste of Premier League action last weekend, will hope for a chance against his former club, whom he left in 2007 to join the Villa academy.

He said: “I played here at under-16s and 17s and the scouts came from Villa. I went for a trial for a week and they said they were interested in signing me.

“It’s always been a dream to play in England. My debut on Saturday was only a few minutes, but to be on the pitch with so many people watching you is incredible.

“It would be great because to play tonight as my whole family are Rapid Vienna fans. I supported them when I was younger so it would be a good feeling to play here. Last year I was top goalscorer for the reserves.

“That was a great feeling for me and I’m trying to break into the first team as much as I can this season.”