Despite the early season form of Carlton Cole and the newest member of England’s pizza posse, Darius Vassell, David O'Leary has refused to cool his pursuit of Southampton striker James Beattie.
The news comes as last season’s top scorer Juan Pablo Angel made an early return to first team action following a rapid recovery from a knee injury. The Colombian international impressed in a reserve game in midweek and was drafted onto the substitutes bench for Villa’s game at West Brom on Sunday.
With Vassell and on-loan Cole both finding the net in the 2-0 defeat of Southampton on the opening day of the season and the promising Moore brothers continuing to knock on the door of the starting eleven, O'Leary's striking options look healthier than ever.