Aston Villa-Stoke City Preview

Mar 11, 2010 - 5:53 PM CHRIS TUPLING STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is backing Norway striker John Carew to carry his excellent FA Cup record into the Premier League, starting at Stoke on Saturday.

Carew has managed only four league goals so far from ten starts, struggling to break into the team ahead of Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.

But it has been a different matter in the FA Cup where Carew's second half hat-trick at Reading took Villa into the FA Cup semi final where they will meet favourites Chelsea.

Carew's record in the FA Cup is six goals from two starts and now O'Neill wants him to translate his cup form into league success.

O'Neill said: "Carew can hopefully put all sorts of things behind him and charge on with a second wind through the last part of the season.

"Carew was man of the match at Reading after we had played so badly in the first half and gone two goals down by the interval.

"We all know what he can do. He's big, strong and capable of doing anything at this level. It's up to him what he does now."

Carew will hope that he did enough against Reading to earn a starting chance at the Britannia Stadium where Villa go in search of the points needed to stay in contention for a top-four finish.

But O'Neill's immediate concern is the virus which has affected his players and staff in recent days and he fears it could sweep through the dressing room.

"Agbonlahor has been very sick and so has our physio Stuart Walker. It is a bug that can go through a team in no time and we have to hope there is no problem between now and when we go to Stoke."

Stoke have 35 points and are eleven above the Premier League drop zone, rare security for a team who have struggled to adapt to life in the top flight.

Manager Tony Pulis has injury problems with powerful Jamaica striker Ricardo Fuller nursing a back injury, which forced him out of the 1-1 draw at Burnley in midweek, while long throw specialist Rory Delap limped out of the same match.

Pulis is relieved that with so many points already gleaned, Stoke should avoid getting dragged into relegation trouble.

"I take nothing for granted, though," said Pulis. "I don't know how many points it will take to stay up but no one would agree 35 is enough.

"We have been strong at home again this season and better away, which was our problem last season.

"We should have beaten Burnley at Turf Moor after going into the lead and we came away disappointed. This time last year we would have been delighted with an away point.

"Villa are a strong side and are chasing a Champions League place so it is another tough game but as we have discovered over the last year or two they are all tough."