Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner has hailed manager Martin O'Neill's influence on his career.

He told avfc.co.uk: "The gaffer's really encouraging. He keeps you on your toes and gets you up for every game. He praises you when praise is due and all he's done all season is praise me.

"I feel so confident when I'm at the training ground and when I'm out on the pitch - that's because of the things he's said.

"His comments about me in the press last season were amazing, but I'm just keeping my head down and I won't get carried away with any of it."

Gardner continued: "Martin O'Neill is a player's manager and the sort of manager you want to go out and perform for. You can see it in his eyes and in his face that he wants to win every single game. That's like me.

"In the Middlesbrough game at the end of last season, we just couldn't wait to get out in the second-half and we destroyed them. That's what we need next season."