Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has confirmed he'll give players involved in end-of-season international matches up to an extra fortnight's break before reporting back for the 2007-2008 campaign.

A host of Villa players were involved in European Championship qualifiers while Gary Cahill and Ashley Young are part of the England Under-21 side in Holland.

Villa officially report back for pre-season training on July 4 but those players will be given more time to recharge their batteries.

O'Neill said: "We come back on July 4 but there are so many players who were playing up until the end of May, beginning of June, plus Ashley and Gary in the Under-21 Championships.

"I am going to give them an extra 10 to 12 days, maybe a fortnight off. You need them to have some sort of a break before reporting back for the new season."