Villa tackle Arsenal on Sunday and Liverpool two days
later
Dec 27 - Arsenal -
(A)
Dec 29 - Liverpool -
(H)
Jan 2 - Blackburn - (H) FA
Cup
Jan 5 - Blackburn - (A) Carling Cup
Jan 9 - Wigan - (A)
Martin O'Neill will finally look to rotate his
Aston Villa players during a hectic two-week period which could
define their season.
O'Neill has tended to keep faith with the same nucleus in recent
weeks and named an unchanged side for the last four Barclays
Premier League games - all of which have ended in victories.
But the former Celtic boss is aware the heavy workload ahead
means he will have to utilise his entire squad.
Villa tackle Arsenal on Sunday and Liverpool two days later and
then have FA Cup third round and Carling Cup semi-final first-leg
meetings with Blackburn in the space of four days.
O'Neill concedes his side were leg weary after the weekend win
over Stoke - their third game in eight days.
He said: "To go to Manchester United and win, then travel to
Sunderland last midweek and win there, and then beat Stoke at home
on Saturday was great because we've gone in with the same team and
subs each time.
"I have really good faith in the players. The players want to
play for a start. Imagine asking (James) Milner if he wants to rest
up for Arsenal, he wouldn't have it! "The same would apply to
Ashley Young or any of the players. "But we have one or two fresh
players around and this programme between now and the end of the
calendar year, never mind the games we go into immediately in
January, is definitely something to look at.
"It is a big period for us and I am quite sure we will utilise
the players in that period. "I don't want to be making promises
that I'm unable to keep but I think we will be able to change a few
things.
"You will get players still telling you that they are fine but
there's still that bit of tiredness. You take each case on its own
merits and then you make some decisions on it.
"I am sure it will be pretty difficult for the team to keep
going in the manner they have been doing. "In any case, I bet one
or two things will be enforced on us in any case with injuries and
suspensions.
"For example, no-one would have foreseen last year that Martin
Laursen would only play one more game for us after Christmas before
having to retire. "It can happen, in fact it will happen. Then we
will see how we cope."
O'Neill is convinced his back-up players will be up to the task
if and when he decides to utilise them. He said: "I've not made
many changes recently because the people in the team have been
doing so well but I still have faith in the other players.
"For example, young Fabian Delph from Leeds has not had a proper
chance and it's been a learning time for him. "Other players who
have played very well for us before - Steve Sidwell, Nigel
Reo-Coker, John Carew and Emile Heskey, when we have alternated -
they have proved themselves in the past and I am hopeful everyone
will step up to the mark."
Heskey is O'Neill's only fresh fitness doubt ahead of the trip
to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. He suffered a groin injury
against Stoke which forced him to be substituted midway through the
first half.
A scan has revealed no long-term damage and O'Neill is hopeful
the England striker can play in one of the two festive games.
