Villa boss O'Neill demands festive push for European spot

O'Neill is well aware Villa are approaching the period of the season that 12 months ago gave them major difficulties through lack of numbers and they flirted with the relegation zone right through until Easter.

Despite bringing in players of a better standard since that rocky period, O'Neill concedes that the current squad would still be severely stretched if three or four players were suddenly unavailable.

But the Northern Irishman already has his eyes on the players he wants to bring in during the January transfer window to sustain a push for a possible European spot.

O'Neill told PA Sport: "We are probably at the stage of our development where we are not able to stand three or four players going out of the side.

"Luckily, touch wood, that hasn't happened so far but we have eight games to negotiate between now and the new year which is a big ask for us but it is up to us.

"We will, in the not too distant future, be able to cope with the loss of big players - and I know the players who I would be particularly interested in bringing in (during January).

"Everyone remembers the scenario last November and December when we were really struggling for players because of injuries and even had to bring in a goalkeeper (Gabor Kiraly) on loan to help make up the numbers."

O'Neill is encouraged by the progress made by his side since they were beaten at home by Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign and they are well in contention for at least a UEFA Cup spot.

He said: "We lost to Liverpool but then collected the same number of points as them over the next 10 games which was very encouraging.

"We are in the middle of a very important period for us of three successive away games. It is a tough period with Middlesbrough and Blackburn away in the space of four days before we are at home again to Arsenal.

"This will be a big test for us especially as we have to travel to Middlesbrough on the back of the international fortnight.

"In the past it has not been our best time when players have come back from international matches as seen by us losing to Manchester City and Manchester United. But you have to cope with it."

Villa skipper Gareth Barry has hailed the impact that Boro manager Gareth Southgate had on him during the early part of his career.

Barry played alongside Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu in a three centre-back system before switching to left-back and then midfield.

He said: "Gareth was a massive influence on me when he was at Villa because he was very encouraging to all the young players at the club.

"Any youngster at that time would look up to Gareth because he had such an impressive career with Villa and England.

"He was a superb professional on and off the pitch and a real role model for me when I was trying to make a name for myself in the game."

Barry believes Villa should take encouragement from their impressive record at the Riverside Stadium in recent years when they bid for a second successive away win following the derby triumph over Birmingham.

He said: "Middlesbrough are one of the most unpredictable sides in the Premier League but we have a superb record up there in recent times and we can draw on that to help us get the right result."