Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has revealed the emergence of Lyon ace Karim Benzema helped him to land John Carew last year.

O'Neill - who is working as a pundit for the BBC - said: "Gerard Houllier told me 18 months ago he could let Carew out because he had someone emerging through of a similar nature.

"He did not say it was Benzema at the time, but soon afterwards he was brought into the team so it was obviously him."