"I've been worried since the start of the season," said the manager, for whom Stilian Petrov remains his only major signing since he took over. "We haven't got a strong enough squad and, apart from Olof Mellberg and a few others, we have a very young side. They are showing a great willingness and ability but we need strengthening." Villa face a daunting festive programme in which they face Manchester United and Chelsea, and once into the new year O'Neill is reported to be considering moves for highly-rated West Brom skipper Curtis Davies and Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley, currently on loan at Rangers.