Richard Dunne believes that victory in the Carling Cup for Aston Villa will boost their chances of signing quality players in the transfer market. It is believed that boss Martin O'Neill will be ready to spend up to £20 million next summer.

“Every footballer’s ambition throughout their careers is to win something,” Dunne told the Birmingham Mail. “I suppose for the young lads, the more they can win at a younger age, the more experience and the more hunger it will give them to win more.

“I suppose it is the same everywhere – if you get your first trophy it will hopefully lead to more and breed confidence around the side.

“Hopefully clubs looking in will fear us a little bit more and players who probably wouldn’t want to come to Aston Villa previously will start looking at us as a successful side where the top players can come and win stuff.”