Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says his spat with Nigel Reo-Coker is firmly in the past after the midfielder returned in the win over Bolton.
Reo-Coker was handed his first start since the infamous training ground bust-up with O'Neill in September and ended up captaining the side in the absence of Stiliyan Petrov.
O'Neill is adamant his bust-up with Reo-Coker is forgotten about and was happy to hand him the captain's armband in the 5-1 thumping of Bolton.
"I'm too old to start holding grudges now," said O'Neill. "Perhaps when I was at Nigel's age I probably would have done. But I'm too old and for the benefit of the team it's not that important.
"Nigel and myself had a bit of a spat. It's over and gone with, it was quite some time ago.
"What will be will be, but I just want players to come in here and give everything for this football club and try and win games in this league.
"The opportunity arose to put him into the side and I felt if he's going into the side he might as well burden himself with the extra responsibility as captain as well. I thought he acquitted himself really well."


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Your Comments
villabob (Aston Villa fan)
"everyone please give our friend Ken Wheldon a round of appluase. Thanks Ken - you're amazing. "
henrys (Aston Villa fan)
"This is great news....NRC is a MUCH better option than Sidwell. Him and Stan are the way forward without doubt.
MON will not leave Villa for Liverpool; he is too loyal and his relationship with our club, chairman, fans etc is very good."
alfried1983 (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
"vangurin (Liverpool fan) please please explain to me this record that speaks for itself. dont get me wrong, he seems to be doing well with Villa - at the time a mid table team on the cusp on european football. to spend a load of money and make them a mid table club just getting european football. prior to that he managerd one of the only two teams in scotland nad managed to wind a couple of tropheys. honesty i dont get the massifve hype aropund this guy, he hasnt exactly changed water into wine"
cheshirevilla (Aston Villa fan)
"I think our friend from across the City made a valid point about Liverpool and class. Yes Class is permanent, and at the moment Liverpool dont have any class players other than Stevie G and Torres. If blue Noses can get a point there I think it proves it."
Aussie Villa (Aston Villa fan)
"And in the case of the Bluenoses relegation is something they're always getting ready for."
ken_wheldon (Birmingham City fan)
"i think you write Liverpool off far too easily, Villa will not finish above them at all. Liverpool have been here before, class is permanent, form is temporary."
spfister9 (Aston Villa fan)
"I'll keep Sidwell in the side thanks. Reo-coker simply isn't good enough. Once Petrov is back Nigel can go sit on the bench again. And as far as being Liverpool's next manager, why on earth would MON go and manage a side that is that awful. We'll finish above Liverpool this season, and comfortably so. As much as their fans hate to hear it, they're a 2 man team. That side requires a complete overhaul, that's a project, and MON already has one that he's years into at Villa."
BirchgroveVilla (Aston Villa fan)
"Thank Christ. Now let's get on with playing football. Once Petrov comes back we can kick Sidwell off to the Bench and play NRC and Stan in the middle. (To be fair to Sidwell, last time I saw him play was against Wolves and OMG the guy could not time a tackle or giving/receiving pass. Maybe he's better now, but I doubt it.)"
vangurin (Liverpool fan)
"hopefully OŽNeill will be our next manager. Not just based on this but his record speaks for itself"
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