Europe helps youngsters - O'Neill

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believes a European campaign next season will help to develop the young players in his squad.

Villa will go into the Uefa Cup if they can win their two-legged Intertoto Cup match in July.

"If we can get through the Intertoto and into the Uefa Cup, it could be great experience for our players," O'Neill said.

"If we can get to the group stages that would certainly be the case."

"Stiliyan Petrov was only a young player when we had the Uefa Cup run in 2003 and he grew in stature as the competition went on"
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill

O'Neill took Celtic to the Uefa Cup final in 2003.

Villa will go into the second qualifying round of the Cup if they beat either Lisburn Distillery of Northern Ireland, TPS Turku of Finland or Danish side Odense in their Intertoto Cup tie.

O'Neill said: "I think Everton would say they're much better equipped for Europe next season as a result of their terrific run this year and the experience gained from that.

"I saw that at Celtic with a number of players. Stiliyan Petrov was only a young player when we had the Uefa Cup run through to the final in 2003 and he grew in stature as the competition went on.

"Hopefully we can see the same with our young players. The likes of Gabby [Agbonlahor] and Ashley Young can only benefit from that experience as they continue to develop as players."

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