Martin O"Neill refuses to risk players in Aston Villa"s pull for Champions League place

By Sandy Macaskill 730AM GMT twenty-four March 2010

Doubtful James Milner (right) competence be complacent for Wednesday"s diversion as Aston Villa try to strengthen their harmed players Photo Nick Potts/PA

O"Neill accepts that Agbonlahor, who is out with vinculum repairs in a foot, and Dunne, who is pang from an Achilles problem, have been personification by the suffering barrier, but he stressed that he would not ask them, or Milner, who has picked up an vague niggle, to risk their long-term fitness to maximize the club"s chances of subordinate for the Champions League.

"The one thing I don"t wish to do here is imperil people"s careers," he said. "I don"t wish any one to fool around with a little sort of damage that is going to disease them."

Aston Villa v Sunderland compare preview O"Neill struggling to encounter Villa fans" expectations James Milner set for new understanding Milner England"s china backing Villa in good figure for tip 4 Sport on radio

It does not meant that O"Neill is surrender defeat, however. In conditions of points, and stream positioning, Villa competence not be as well off as last season, but they are dominant in the fasten given their 1-0 better to Liverpool in December, and could even go fifth should they win by dual transparent goals opposite Sunderland on Wednesday evening.

That said, a better would roughly positively finish their challenge.

"If we wish to be in at the low finish this is a diversion we have to go and try and win," O"Neill said.

Asked who he deliberate to be favourites to finish fourth, O"Neill pronounced "City don"t have any alternative distractions, they have a sincerely sizeable patrol and are in a good position. But the thing about Tottenham is they have points on the board. I couldn"t order Liverpool out at any stage."

Supporters will goal that the deficiency of Villa from his comment is only a inference of O"Neill"s healthy self-deprecation.

Former Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie is fasten League One side Brighton.

The 32 year-old has concluded a loan switch from Derby until the finish of the deteriorate with a perspective to a permanent move to the south seashore in the summer.