Gareth Barry and Stiliyan Petrov are likely to be among those players rested this evening as Aston Villa, with a trip to Chelsea looming on Sunday and leading 3-1 from the away leg, take on Litex Lovech, but Martin O'Neill believes that continued involvement in the Uefa Cup will enhance the England claims of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Moustapha Salifou and James Milner will be given their chance for Villa, whose manager claims that Young and Agbonlahor will be on the plane to South Africa if England qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. “Ashley is at the top of his game and I am sure, with a bit more experience, he can get even better,” O'Neill said. “He's on fire and he couldn't be playing any better than he is. His deadball delivery is something he's born with. He does practise but maybe when he sticks it in the back of the net on the first two attempts, he stops.”

The manager does not wish to risk Villa's place in the group phase but believes that his key men merit some rest. “Barry has played a host of games, Petrov as well. So I have to keep an eye on Sunday,” he said.