Kevin MacDonald shuns the limelight

You'd think most managers would love hearing their name chanted – not Villa's caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald.

The 49-year-old takes his team into tonight's Europa League play-off second leg against Rapid Vienna at Villa Park making the incredible declaration he wishes he was "invisible" on the touchline.

MacDonald, who will decide by Monday whether he wants to be considered as a candidate to replace Martin O'Neill permanently, had his name sung by supporters during Villa's last home game after masterminding a 3-0 victory over West Ham.

But the Scot admits he would rather be a humble hero than big-headed boss any day of the week.

He said: "I don't enjoy the fact that people might say nice things like this and this and this, because I know that somewhere down the line they will say bad things.

"If we start struggling again against Vienna people might start saying Kevin MacDonald is a right so and so. I've got to be able to accept that.

"I'd rather them chant players' names. I don't want them to chant my name because I'm actually only picking the team.

"They're the ones that have to be admired and supported and helped through, not me.

"If I could pick a team and just be stood there like an invisible man and just see how it developed, i'd be quite happy with that. Form the point of view I want the team to win, winning football matches is all that matters.

"You have got to win the football match."

In just three games MacDonald has proven he isn't afraid to take risks – and tonight will be no different.

On the opening day against West Ham it was his decision to start with James Milner.

In last week's Europa League first leg against Rapid Vienna he went with the kids and left a string of stars at home.

Then, on Sunday against Newcastle, he went on the offensive with a formation which accommodated five attack-minded players.

The first two were resounding triumphs but, painfully, it spectacularly failed at St James' Park as the Magpies ran out 6-0 winners.

That result makes MacDonald's decision to leave out four established first-team stars in Richard Dunne, Stewart Downing, Stephen Warnock and Luke Young all the braver.

With two of the places in the defence set to be taken by two players yet to kick a ball competitively for the claret and blues this season, it looks even more bold.

James Collins has not featured for Villa since pulling up with a calf problem in the opening minute of the friendly at Walsall on July 27.

Carlos Cuellar was forced off in similar circumstances with a hamstring complaint in the Guadiana Cup clash against Benfica in Portugal on August 1.

The two seem likely to form the central-defensive partnership Villa will be relying upon to get them into the group stages, against a Rapid side who have already proven themselves very useful in the air.

MacDonald admits it isn't an ideal situation.

He said: "It will be a concern, more so towards the end of 90 minutes if they get that far. Carlos I think has been out for three weeks.

"James has hardly played but he is a big game player. He is an old fashioned throwback. He could probably not train all week but then you stick him on the pitch and he'd be the best on the pitch. He is one of those who can do that.

"I think he has the desire to become an even better footballer and how much it means to him to win football matches will help, if he has a slight lack of match fitness."

Steve Sidwell (Achilles) and Andreas Weimann (ankle) also miss out, with the Austrian expected to be ruled out for two months by the injury he picked up against his old club last week.

Villa kick-off as favourites after Barry Bannan grabbed a precious away goal in the 1-1 draw in Vienna and a draw would now guarantee they progress.

But MacDonald insists there is no chance of his team taking their opponents, who knocked them out at the same stage last year, for granted.

He said: "They are a decent side. They won 2-0 at the weekend, but then we think we are a decent side as well.

"The first 20 to 25 minutes I thought we played very well last week, then I think we got a little bit untidy. I thought their set-pieces were a big danger to us.

"They came here last year and got the away goal they needed to qualify so they know what they're coming to do.

"We just hope we can put on a performance that's good enough to win the game."

MacDonald insists he will have no qualms with playing his young lions again.

He said: "Apparently people thought playing thought playing the youngsters was a gamble – it was a calculated gamble and they performed pretty well in a very, very hostile atmosphere.

"So whether it's right to give them another go who knows - those are decisions that I will have to make. It will probably be a bit early to say anymore.

"It is important for this football club that we get through into the group stages in the Europa League."

MacDonald has watched the tape of the Newcastle drubbing twice and declared his players are desperate to set the record straight.

He said: "The players were upset and I obviously was very upset.

"But the good thing is that they have got a game now to show a reaction if they are selected – that will show the crowd what they think of Aston Villa as a football club."

By Brendan McLoughlin