Martin O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, wants to reserve making a quickfire judgment on his new strike duo John Carew and Ashley Young.

The players, who have a goal each, have come in for lavish praise for the way they have forged an immediate understanding.

Villa have lost two of three games since they arrived at Villa Park and O'Neill, although pleased with the way the duo have adjusted to life in the Premiership, would prefer to see how they perform over a longer period.

"I am delighted with both of them," he said. "It was important for us to go and get a bit of quality in January. For every reason under the sun, the whole squad was crying out for it. The very fact they've come in and done so well together is encouraging.

"But I am surprised people draw conclusions about things so quickly. I can't change it but if John and Ashley had come into Villa and fallen over themselves, people would have said they were a disaster.

"Ashley has got terrific ability and things don't seem to bother him too much. Him and John have come in and given us a lift at an important time.

"But the two of them would prefer to be judged over a season. I don't think the two lads themselves are carried away. They are happy but they, like me, are thinking, 'Let's wait a wee while'."

O'Neill, whose side visit Fulham on Saturday after a three-week break from action, added: "It is encouraging they have got to know each other's play almost instantly.

"I don't want to knock it. I just want to be careful. There is a lot more to come from them."

Villa have won only two of their last 15 league matches but O'Neill added: "Getting players back from injury, like Martin Laursen and Luke Moore, have added to the squad and I am upbeat."