Aston Villa striker John Carew has vowed to have another big goalscoring season.
The Norwegian international led Villa’s eventually in vain charge for a place in the Champions League last season as he bagged 17 goals, and now – as Martin O’Neill’s men look to strive once more in the Premier and Europa Leagues – he says he wants to stay as fit as he can and outscore last year’s tally.
“I have scored a lot of goals and hopefully I will continue to score goals this season,” Carew said after playing his part in Villa’s 2-1 friendly win over Walsall on Tuesday.
“I don't set targets. I just set myself giving one hundred percent and being ready to go for when the games begin. The goals normally come by themselves.
“I am doing my best to be fit and ready for when the season starts so I can't wait to get started again. I will do my best to be available for the team and be an important player for the team.
“I am looking forward to the season and I am trying to get myself as fit as possible.”
Meanwhile, Carew’s boss O’Neill insists that most Villa fans would be happy if James Milner remained with the club.
Midfielder Milner, last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year, has been a target of Manchester City for months, though they are said to have cooled their interest as they are not willing to meet the midlands club’s asking price.
O’Neill suggested last week that Milner had told him that he wanted to leave. However, the pair have talked again since and the England man will be part of the squad that plays in the weekend Guadiana Cup matches against Feyenoord and Benfica in Portugal.
“I can understand totally that players would be affected by offers from Manchester City, particularly in this day and age where it looks as if they can get who they want,” said O’Neill.
“If you can draw a comparision to Gareth Barry, if it (Milner's move) didn't go through, then, of course, he would feel a possible loss for a little while (Barry, now at City, was booed by Villa fans after a proposed move to Liverpool that he was keen to see go through fell through in 2008).
“But at the end of it all, Gareth settled down and played brilliantly for us.
“I think the overwhelming majority of supporters, seeing what James did for us last season, would be delighted if he stayed at the football club.”