Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has told fit-again Patrik Berger he still has a big role to play this season.

O'Neill said: "I think Patrik has been unfortunate. He has been injured for a fairly lengthy time. His pre-season was going particularly well but then got injured the day before the opening game with Liverpool.

"Psychologically I feel that was quite a big knock-back for him after he had ended the season so brilliantly the year before and played a big part in our nine game unbeaten run.

"He has been thwarted by injuries this year, but anybody is capable of coming into the picture because we don't have the numbers and I am delighted to see Patrik back again.

"If he is fully fit he has got every available opportunity and anything like the impact he made in the last third of last season will be good enough."

Berger is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a return to Slavia Prague.