Martin O'Neill says next two games are vital for Aston Villa's England contingent

Martin O'Neill believes Aston Villa's next two fixtures offer an opportunity for the sizeable England contingent within his side to press their claims to be part of Fabio Capello's World Cup plans. Villa face Tottenham Hotspur tonight and Manchester United on Wednesday and O'Neill views the matches as a chance for those on the periphery to make an impression against stellar opponents and claim one of the four squad places he predicts will be up for grabs. James Milner, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey will be flying the flag for Villa and England at White Hart Lane in a game that brings together two clubs with ambitions of breaking into the top four and up to a dozen England internationals. For those on the fringe of the England set-up the World Cup clock is ticking but O'Neill offered words of encouragement yesterday when he was asked whether there was still a chance to change Capello's mind. "I think the next two league tests for us would be that," said the Villa manager. "I'm quite sure that there are a number of players that Capello has already earmarked for South Africa. But there must be at least four positions in the squad where you think that people's form could dictate what would happen. And if somebody was absolutely bang in form up against someone you had a bit of time for but was out of form, I think that must have a bearing nearer the time." He added: "If you are playing very well for your club and you're playing against top quality teams, which is the case with the next two league games, I would be really surprised if Capello wouldn't analyse these games," continued O'Neill. "It's getting close to picking the squad for the next friendly game, against Egypt in March. That will be going through his head at this minand he might decide to view two or three players that he might think about using in the World Cup." Agbonlahor is presenting a strong case to feature against Egypt after scoring twice at Fulham last Saturday, in front of Franco Baldini, Capello's right-hand man, to take his Premier League tally for the season into double figures. Whether Capello would consider picking him as well as Jermain Defoe is unclear but O'Neill believes Agbonlahor is improving all the time and capable of becoming the first Villa player to score 20 league goals in a season since Peter Withe in 1980-81. "I think Defoe is as a good a goalscorer as there is in the Premiership," he said. "He's a natural finisher. But Gabby also has other aspects to his game. He's very strong now on hold-up play, bringing other people into it. I think he learned that during the time when he played on his own up front last season. He is particularly pleased with his goal haul at this minute and I think he's capable of going on and getting 20 League goals."