Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has branded England's friendly with Holland only three days before the start of the new Premier League season "pointless". O'Neill said: "It is not just the England international. You've also got World Cup games being played three days before the season starts.

"It seems really strange and pointless to be playing those sort of games so near to the start of a season.

"We will have loads and loads of people away. We have got full internationals, Under-21s and Under-20s. We might as will invent an Under-22 and Under-24 competition.

"In a week where we will be trying to prepare for the start of the season, we will not see a lot of our players until Friday morning before the Wigan game.

"I might as well say all international games three days before the start of the season are pointless. It doesn't make a great deal of sense."