Martin O'Neill has played down the latest suggestion that Villa are on course to crack the Premier League top four, reports the Birmingham Mail. The Villa boss is quick to point out that the other rivals hoping to upset the top flights elite can't be ignored.

"It is unavoidable (to talk about a top-four place). It is kind of crazy," admitted O'Neill, who takes his side to White Hart Lane for a crucial fixture on Saturday.

"Tottenham Hotspur are a very fine side, Manchester City are fine and you wouldn't count Liverpool out of it at all.

"So those sides are stronger than us in terms of the strength and depth and that would be my concern. We've got a group of players who are absolutely excellent, and I would be concerned if anything happened to them."