Warnock made his debut for his country 17 months months ago as a late substitute in the friendly international away to Trinidad and Tobago when still a Blackburn player.

He had to wait until the recent clash with Brazil in Doha for his next call-up although he did not feature during England's 1-0 loss.

But O'Neill has been delighted with Warnock's form since making a summer switch from Ewood Park as he gears up for Saturday evening's home Premier League clash with Tottenham.

O'Neill said: "Stephen has been a real warrior for us. He has played terrifically well. Warrior would suggest he is just blood and thunder.

"But there is a lot more to him than that. He has done excellently since he arrived here and has made great strides in just a few weeks here.

"Can he go to the World Cup? It is nice to know at least he is in the thoughts of the England manager.

"Okay, he didn't get on against Brazil. I would have been really pleased even if he had only got the same number of moments as Ashley Young.

"But I believe he can't do much more (to get an England spot)."

O'Neill feels Villa could be even better placed to challenge for a European spot since recovering in style from losing at home to Wigan on the opening day of the campaign.

But he is aware of the need to grind out results even when fortune is not favouring Villa as was the case when suffering last gasp defeats at Blackburn and West Ham.

He said: "People go on about luck and fortune but I think it's important to stress a quality to go out there and get a result when you haven't had things all your own way.

"We've had a number of set-backs. Look at some of the games we have lost. On the opening day, we lost (to Wigan) and deserved to do so. We didn't play well enough.

"But the two losses we have had since have happened in desperately unfortunate circumstances.

"We conceded a really late goal in debatable circumstances at Blackburn and then a 94th minute goal at West Ham when in actual fact we should have been able to see the game out.

"We could easily have been unbeaten after that opening day defeat but again it's getting back to ifs, buts and maybes. The less you talk about them and the more you do on the pitch, the better chance you have."

Winger Stewart Downing could make his home debut after recovering from his broken foot but central defender James Collins remains a doubt with his groin problem.