Villa star in fans' pledge

Olof Mellberg hopes to give Villa a farewell gift of European football next season as the mystery of who will be there to fight the campaign continues.

Mellberg's summer exit to Juventus was confirmed yesterday in one of the more straightforward changes manager Martin O'Neill dealt with at the start of the final week of transfer activity for the season.

The departing Mellberg hopes that whoever O'Neill does recruit will have European football on his agenda.

The popular 30-year-old defender says: "I have 14 cup finals to play - and I'm looking forward to them.

"I felt it was time for a new challenge but my total focus now is my performances for Villa.

"It would be great to have a good last season and wouldn't it be fantastic to take Villa into Europe? That's my aim."