O'Neill's brave new world: Capello should take a look at Villa's blooming English youngsters

As the new England manager, the Italian with the big ideas should make a visit soon because Aston Villa has become a breeding ground for the blossoming youth of English football.

Martin O'Neill may not be able to call the shots as national team coach, but he will still have a major say in the make-up of the side that contests qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

On the day Arsenal's team at Portsmouth failed to include a single Englishman — again — Villa were packing them into the side which drew 4-4 at Chelsea.

In order of probability, the roster that Capello will call upon comprises: Gareth Barry, Ashley Young, Scott Carson, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Zat Knight, Nigel Reo-Coker and Curtis Davies.

O'Neill is convinced that England Under 21 midfielder Craig Gardner will improve, too. He also sees an international future for Marlon Harewood, although that is

undoubtedly stretching the point too far. The Aston Villa boss said: "We do have a number of good English players here when it's being said that others don't.

"We can be influential for England with what we do here. We have not done this deliberately in the sense that we won't sign someone from Bolivia if he fits but I wanted the core of my team to be English.

"I have gone down a route which I'm trying to follow. To bring in English players. But my next signings might be foreign.

"Arsene Wenger's job is to win matches for Arsenal. Mine is to do likewise for Aston Villa. However, I'm delighted with some of the young English players we have at this club. Whether or not it's fruitful in the long term, who knows?

"Agbonlahor and Young are thriving and Barry has earned his place. There is a perception that there aren't young English players about. Maybe it's something that should be looked at in this root-and-branch inquiry."

Although Carson remains a Liverpool player, there will be dialogue over making his deal permanent in the coming weeks, if it has not been held already. Such a list leaves the Irishman as the unofficial champion of homegrown talent.

Barry's all-round game was criminally overlooked by Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren until it was too late.

Regular Villa watchers have long backed his cause. Indeed, so upset were Villa's officials that they mounted a 'Barry for England' campaign on the club's website.

But if Villa's skipper may be a known quantity, Capello will surely be interested in two players who have become the fulcrum of Villa's attacking policy.

The country is screaming out for a natural successor to the injury plagued Michael Owen. Gabriel Agbonlahor is the second-highest ranked English striker, after Wigan Athletic's Marcus Bent, in the Barclays Premier League scoring charts.

With incredible pace, an awareness that is growing by the week and a hunger to improve, the legacy left by David O'Leary for O'Neill was clearly not all bad.

However, the more popular Irishman — in the eyes of his supporters — can take credit for sticking his neck in the noose and spending almost £10million on Watford youngster Ashley Young.

His ability to run inside and out at pace on either flank has given Villa's boss more options. And the opposition more headaches.

It will be of little interest to anyone that Carson has been a model of consistency, save for the one monumental blunder that will surely haunt him for ever.

While Reo-Coker has been likened to Roy Keane and Claude Makelele so far by O'Neill, Zat Knight, lest we forget, already has international honours to his credit.

Davies may have thought his first outing in claret and blue was fit only for 'The Dog and Duck' but he too is an Under 21 international of some pedigree.

O'Neill admits it is no happy coincidence that he has taken up the flag of St George. 'Look at Young and Agbonlahor, in particular.

Young has natural talent. He didn't get that with Aston Villa. Agbonlahor was regarded as pacy, but didn't have a good first touch. He has worked all hours to improve on that.

However, what they have in common is that they want to improve and work hard.

"I have faith in those players. Real faith. I don't mind going for the likes of someone who is 21, 22, 23 with a lot to prove and who has potential. I'd seen enough of Ashley Young, for example, to know that the money we were spending would not be a major risk.

"Nigel Reo-Coker does so much for the side from midfield. We think Curtis Davies is full of potential and so are Zat Knight and Marlon Harewood. Don't forget, we have also given chances to people like Luke Moore, Gabby Agbonlahor and others like Craig Gardner who has now tasted international Under 21 football. And I'm absolutely confident about the potential which they all have."

So, have you heard the one about the Italian, the Irishman and the England team? No?

Well, listen carefully. You may do soon.