Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says his young players are good enough to make an impression this season.

O'Neill has been thoroughly impressed with the likes of Marc Albrighton, Nathan Delfouneso, Ciaran Clark and Shane Lowry and believes they should take heart that they are only been kept out of the team by quality internationals.

He told AVTV: "The players that are keeping our young lads out of the side are fully-fledged internationals.

"Lads like Marc have a real, proper chance of being a player. We've also got the likes of Nathan Delfouneso, Shane Lowry and Ciaran Clark.

"We've sent Shane out on loan, Ciaran came into the side for the game with Fulham and played as if he had turned out 50 times in the Premier League. It is all very encouraging.

"I am hoping those players would get chances. The Premier League, as I am often reminded, is not the place to be experimenting all the time. When I look back, I wish we had the European games because I would definitely have looked to blood them in that - metaphorically rather than physically of course.

"But I am sure their chance will come and I am sure they will grasp it."