Martin O'Neill has assured Aston Villa fans they are actively working in the winter market.

"We are definitely going to try to bring people in to strengthen if at all possible but, like anything else, there are two ways to look at it," he said. "You either think some people can come in and give you an extra bit of help or you decide there is someone who can be a big asset to the football club for the next three or four years and you can get this player in January, which would be pretty difficult.

"But then I think it is worth pursuing. That is the approach I had last year too."

O'Neill brought in three permanent signings and a loanee last January but this time is not expecting a hectic last fortnight.

"You always felt that Shaun Maloney - out of contract at the end of the season and I obviously knew him inside out - would come," said O'Neill.

"And you felt Ashley Young was going to be here with a bit of luck for the foreseeable future and that John Carew would come in and do a job.

"We might not get the same type of luck this season but it won't be through a lack of trying."