O'Neill runs rule over McShane

The 21-year-old has received good reports in recent months, playing mainly at right-back, and the Kilpeddar-born Irish international could be on his way to Villa Park during the summer. That would probably mean no permanent deal for Phil Bardsley, a former team-mate of McShane's at Manchester United. The latter had short spells at Walsall and Brighton before joining Albion in a deal that saw Tomasz Kuszczak move to Old Trafford.

The news comes on a day that another right-back, Mark Delaney, revealed he hopes to be back in light training by next month as he makes a good recovery from knee surgery. The Wales defender will be assessed by American surgeon Dr Richard Steadman on 16 April. Delaney's equally hapless defensive partner Martin Laursen has already returned to training.