Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill will continue to break Nathan Delfouneso in gently after suggesting it is too soon for the teenager to solve Villa's Premier League goals drought, reports the Birmingham Mail. But, although Delfouneso took his tally to five goals in seven starts in Saturday's victory over Brighton in the FA Cup, O'Neill is reluctant to turn to his prolific young prodigy.

"He wouldn't save us money in the transfer market in that sense, because we're not in that position," said O'Neill.

"My own view, and I've talked about it umpteen times, is that he's got great potential and he's starting to realise that potential.

"Like everything else, he just needs a chance to go and play. His chances have been limited because Gabby Agbonlahor, John Carew and Emile Heskey have been there.

"But getting these opportunities and going and taking them augurs well for him in the future. I've got no doubt he'll be a proper player."

Delfouneso is still to make a Premier League start for Villa and O'Neill is keen to continue his softly-softly approach with the Bodymoor Heath academy graduate.

"If you are asking players to go and step in for a little cameo role for 20 minutes and make a big impact, you could ask more experienced players to step on the field of play for that time in a match and they might not have that impact," added O'Neill.

"My own view is that I think he would relish this stage but you can't have a flash at it for 20 minutes.

"If you could guarantee him starting six or seven games that would help, but it's a delicate balance whether we're able to do that or not.

"In time he will take his place and he will prove it. I think he is going down the way of proving it in the FA Cup games that he's played."