Fulham-Aston Villa Preview

Aug 28, 2009 - 4:41 PM MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Martin O'Neill could be one of the busiest managers in the transfer market as the window draws to a close with Aston Villa entertaining Fulham on Sunday.

O'Neill is desperate to strengthen his squads following their disappointing start to the new season and following the seven million pounds acquisition of Blackburn utility man Stephen Warnock is close to completing a move for Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne.

Villa were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday night by Rapid Vienna in a game which displayed the apparent weakness of O'Neill's squad and also the lack of strength in the centre of defence.

O'Neill said: "I have enquired about a number of players \2013 we are trying.

"I will use all the financial backing that we have, I will utilise that and I will take it right up to the end.

"After Tuesday you cannot do anything and you are left with what you have, I will try and get players in.

"We have a number in mind, we are hopeful of doing things. We might be in a position to do so too \2013 that is the impression we have been given by other clubs."

O'Neill will definitely be without key defender Curtis Davies for the visit of Fulham after he was forced off during the European game with a dislocated shoulder.

Davies will visit a specialist next week but O'Neill admits it is difficult to suggest just how long the talented centre-halve will be out for.

O'Neill added: "Curtis Davies' shoulder once again caused us a problem but it feels a bit easier now but obviously at some stage we will have to assess it.

"We have an international break coming up and he will go down and have a specialist look at him, we will see how that goes.

"He is a terrific character, he wants to play all the time, he has got great enthusiasm for it and is always puts his hand up wanting to play.

"That is very refreshing but we will need to take a serious look at it because for his long-term future in the game he may need an operation."

Unlike Villa, Roy Hodgson's Fulham side earned a place in the group stages of the Europa League however the Cottagers' manager is concerned their European adventure is already stretching their squad to breaking points.

Hodgson has remained relatively quiet in the transfer market all summer and despite being linked with a whole host of players across the continent insists he is happy with the group of players at his disposal.

Hodgson said: "We will not be giving European competition priority \2013 that is for sure. The priority for teams like ourselves is always survival in the Premier League.

"If people are going to expect me to play with the same XI three times a week, then that will be a mistake, that will not be happening.

"We will be changing and we will be resting players."

Hodgson will recall Clint Dempsey, Paul Konchesky, Bobby Zamora and Danny Murphy to the starting line-up after they were rested in midweek but striker Andrew Johnson remains injured.