Barry 'better than ever'

Aston Villa coach Martin O'Neill has insisted that captain Gareth Barry has bounced back to become 'better than ever' despite this summer's transfer wranglings with the player.

Barry had been linked with a move to Arsenal and Liverpool, but decided to stay at the club.

O'Neill has revealed that the player is now on form and playing better than ever, and admitted he is delighted to keep the player at Villa Park.

O'Neill said: 'Gareth, to his great credit, has put aside the disappointment of not joining Liverpool during the last transfer window.

'He has put his head down and got on with things and he has been excellent for us. My own view is that Gareth is now actually playing better than ever.

'Gareth gets more freedom to play with us than he does with England. Stiliyan Petrov is the one who does the holding for Villa which allows Gareth to go forward.

'But that's not to say he can't do both roles.'