O'Neill backs Villa young guns to fire in front of Fabio

This evening the Italian will be rewarded with the rare spectacle of two sides featuring enough players to form the new manager's first England team.

The sell-out signs will again be put out for Manchester United's latest visit to their lucky stadium. But, for once, an England boss will have his eyes focused on the hosts as much as the visitors.

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Gabriel Agbonlahor tops the cast list of England possibles in the clash of the third round. The striker will be included in Capello's first squad for the visit of Switzerland to Wembley on February 6, while clubmates Gareth Barry, Scott Carson and Ashley Young will also be hoping to catch the new manager's eye.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "Capello will be as good a judge as anybody of our players. The key is that unless they are particularly poor on the day — and they haven't been recently — I would hope he sees something to bring him back.

"I'd be delighted if he took notice of our players. Gareth has been brilliant on a consistent basis, Ashley has been in the squad and Gabby, too, is playing brilliantly.

"If we saw Capello on a regular basis, I'd be delighted. It would mean these lads were playing well and that would only benefit our football club."

Villa skipper Barry was more circumspect and feared Capello's planned visit could have a negative effect.

Barry said: "I'm not sure it's a good thing. It's extra pressure for a young player, although Gabby won't worry too much, that's why I'm hopeful we can deal with it.

"It's something else that can get inside a player's head, though. That's my main concern, having experienced it myself as a teenager. It's another distraction.

"It's probably not a good thing for the club for that to be coming out the day before an important game.

"Having said that, Gabby has been mentioned and Ashley gets the fans off their seats. He's just one of the players playing out of their skin at the moment. Villa are a great option for the England manager. Three of us were involved in the last squad and there are another five who will try to impress the new manager."

Villa have recorded just one victory over Sir Alex Ferguson's team in the past 13 years.

That was in 1999 when a squad of comparative United unknowns — with surnames like Twiss, Wellens, Notman, Culkin and Roche — suffered a 3-0 defeat. And Ferguson has never tasted defeat in the third round of the FA Cup.

Barry added: "Obviously, the record is there to be shot at. I'm sure it will be broken soon.

"We look at it as a great chance. We respect their players. We were taught a lesson in the league earlier this season. We're certainly looking forward to the game."

Ferguson last night widened his rift with the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association by dismissing their concerns over the match-day environment at Old Trafford.

"You talk to people who think they're the conscience of this club, who are not the conscience of this club," said Sir Alex.

"People like independent supporters associations or FC United. They're not the conscience of this club, no way.

"We've got many, many great supporters at this club and they're the ones we respect."

The row started when Sir Alex described the New Year's Day atmosphere at Old Trafford as 'funereal'.

United have rebuffed an inquiry from Newcastle for defender Wes Brown, who is in the last year of his contract and has so far rejected United's offer of a new deal.

The United boss added: "There was an inquiry from Newcastle for Wes but we turned it down in spite of the fact he's out of contract at the end of the season.

"The matter rests with Wes and this agent guy who he's got, who's a beauty. But the offer is there so we'll have to wait and see."