O’Neill: Squad Is Too Thin For Europe

Villa currently sit 6th, level on points with Liverpool, who they play on Monday night, but the former Celtic boss is aware that he has the smallest squad in the Premiership at his disposal and knows that should they qualify, they would need to add to the playing staff.

"We still have time to adjust our squad in time to compete in Europe - but we couldn't cope with that now. I think that is pretty obvious" he said.

"We have 22 players to choose from at the moment, three of which are goalkeepers while Steve O'Halloran is out on loan so we haven't the strength to cope with that yet.

"Our luck has been so far in terms of that we have had few serious injuries. If we had the number of injuries, for example, that West Ham have had this season we couldn't cope with that."

O’Neill has 11 days left of the January transfer window if he is to add anybody to the Villains squad this season. He has been linked with a move for Sevilla full back Jose Angel Crespo.

"The size of the squad is something we are going to try to address if we can. We are working on bringing players in. It was hard enough last year. It is not easy" he explained.

Barry Targeting Aston Villa Record

Gareth Barry is fast approaching the 10th anniversary of his debut for Aston Villa as a 17-year-old against Sheffield Wednesday in May 1998.

And as that milestone draws nearer so does another one of which the influential England midfielder would be particularly proud - 400 appearances in competitive first-team games for Villa.

Earlier this season, Barry became the youngest player to make 300 appearances in the Premier League at the age of 26 years and 247 days.

Villa legend Charlie Aitken made 656 league and cup appearances for the Midlands club between 1959 and 1976, and that was a proud record that looked unlikely to be broken.

However, Barry's game has been rejuvenated since Martin O'Neill became Villa manager 18 months ago, and Aitken's record could be seriously challenged if Barry remains at Villa Park for another five years - by which time the club's captain will still only be 32.

Barry, fighting to shake off a bruised pelvis in time to face Liverpool on Monday night, said: "I think about the appearance record but you can't look too far ahead.

"Having said that, I signed a four-year contract last season and I want to play as many games as possible and be successful.

"If that means topping up appearances, and climbing higher and higher towards the record holders, then that would be a big bonus for me. I take it a game at a time and a year at a time - but hopefully records come with it.

"You certainly take one season at a time. I've got two and a half years left of my current contract and hopefully in that time there might be another 100 appearances there and who knows from there?"

Barry added: "You don't tend to see too many players staying at one club for a long period of time but I've always felt settled at Villa. Apart from one spell, I've always been picked and have very rarely been left out.

"Over the years you realise you're playing a lot of games - and I want to play in every game - but to suddenly reach 300 Premier League games at the age of 26 was an achievement in itself."

O’Neill In The Dark Over Defoe’s ‘Imminent Arrival’ Boss Martin O'Neill insists reports of Tottenham's Jermain Defoe being only days away from signin

The Ulsterman wholly denied that the hit-man was in Birmingham to look around Villa's training ground and discuss personal terms, insisting he hasn’t even spoke to the player’s club.

"It is simply untrue, absolutely and utterly untrue - it couldn't be any fairer than that," O'Neill told Sky Sports News.

"I think that sort of statement, if you're talking about a player at a football club - where the two haven't talked to each other, is grossly unfair."

Meanwhile, just 24 hours after securing Martin Laursen’s future with the Midlands club, O'Neill revealed he is set to offer similar terms to keep full-back Wilfred Bouma.

"We have an option for another year and I will speak to Wilfred about that. There are no worries with that one," said O'Neill.

Laursen Optimistic About New Villa Contract Aston Villa's Danish international defender, Martin Laursen, is hopeful that a new contract can be finali

Martin Laursen scored his sixth goal of the season for Aston Villa on Saturday as Martin O'Neill's side beat Reading 3-1, underlining his value to the West Midlands club.

It was a timely reminder too, as Laursen is out of contract at the end of this season, and talks about a new deal are therefore high on his and the club's agenda.

Manager O'Neill is keen to retain the services of the Danish international, and further discussions about a new contract are scheduled for this week.

Laursen says he is happy at Aston Villa, and he is confident that he will be offered a new deal to which he can agree.

"There is going to be a meeting in the middle of the week and we will see what that brings," he said.

"I would like to stay, so hopefully we can find some kind of agreement.

"I have an agent that takes care of all that. We have had a meeting about what we think is reasonable and what I should ask for.

"I feel settled on and off the pitch. I enjoy living here," added the former Verona and AC Milan defender who joined Villa from the Rossoneri in 2004.