VILLA

Last updated : 28 December 2004 By editor

The only players still out are Gary Neville and double D, who both have the flu. Scholes should be okay and might start in place of Ronaldo.

Fergie;

”Gary Neville’s still in bed and is out of the Villa game, as is Djemba-Djemba,”

“Paul Scholes had it last week as well but I think he will be much better by Tuesday.”

”We felt putting Paul on the bench was the best thing to do against Bolton but he still managed to come on and get the goal that settled the match. His form’s been great and he’s red hot at the moment.”

O’dreary on his teams form said;

"When I saw the fixture list and saw Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Chelsea and Manchester United I knew it was going to be a tough month for us and we'd have to come out the other side.”

"This week we've worked with the numbers we have. We've played Middlesbrough and Chelsea - two big-spending clubs - and I think we have deserved more than we've got.The teams we have been playing we have no right to beat but we have not gone out there with a defeatist attitude. Those four were expected to beat us but I don't think anyone can say we're getting a drubbing. We’ll always battle, no matter what team we have left. We'll always try to give it a go."

Villa's problems are particularly severe in defence with Martin Laursen, Jlloyd Samuel and now Mark Delaney out injured.