Doyle ready for Dunne test

Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 by PA

Wolves striker Kevin Doyle goes head to head with Republic of Ireland team-mate Richard Dunne on Saturday and is braced for a testing battle.

In-form Doyle has scored three goals in his last five appearances but knows adding to that tally against Aston Villa will be tricky as his international colleague poses a formidable barrier in the centre of defence.

Dunne made the switch from Manchester City to Villa in the summer, after being squeezed out during a period of heavy investment at Eastlands, and Doyle is convinced Martin O'Neill made a shrewd buy.

Doyle said: "Richard is a very good defender as are all defenders are in the Premier League. So it is going to be another tough game.

"I was surprised when he left Manchester City as he had been their captain.

"We will say 'hello' beforehand and then we won't talk again until after the game.

"I don't know whether he has many weaknesses. He is a very good player.

"I am always on his side for Ireland and in training so I can't really say that I know him inside out.

"It certainly won't make it any easier for either of us.

"One thing I do know is that I won't be marking him at the set-pieces.

"We know he is a big threat in front of goal and that is something we will have to be aware of."

The clash carries an extra edge for Doyle as it will be the first local derby of his career having never played in one for Cork City in Ireland or for Reading.

He is relishing the clash and said: "I expect it to be a fast, end-to-end match with plenty of atmosphere.

"I have never played in a derby game before but I know what the match means to the fans."

Wolves are boosted by the availability of striker Chris Iwelumo for the first time this season.

Scotland international Iwelumo has been sidelined for almost six months by a knee injury and a broken foot.

He will be on the bench as a replacement for Stefan Maierhofer who is suspended after being sent off at Everton.

Martin O'Neill firmly believes Ashley Young is up there with the cream of Europe - never mind the Premier League.

The Aston Villa winger, 24, has come in for some recent criticism amid suggestions his form has dipped slightly and that he is not striking the same fear into defences as he was last season.

His strike rate - just one goal so far this term - and his number of assists are both down on previous seasons.

But manager O'Neill insists Young's role involves a lot more than just beating his man and getting a cross in, and believes his work rate - along with those of his fellow midfielders and forwards - is one of the main reasons for Villa being able to boast the meanest defence in the top flight.

O'Neill also goes one step further by saying that, having watched a host of Champions League action this week, Villa's number seven ranks among the best wide men Europe has to offer.

Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Wolves, O'Neill said of Young: "Wingers are expected to pick the ball up, look up - even when you're being double covered - and beat a couple of players or get a good cross in, but his job is so much more here.

"He tracks back to help our full-back, then our midfield player gives him the ball, he looks up and he's got 90 yards to go and 15 players to beat. You think, `This might be a bit daunting'."

O'Neill explained: "Yes, he's misplaced a couple of crosses and free-kicks. But for me he's been brilliant, really brilliant - for everything that he brings and for someone that is so slight.

"In two successive nights this week I watched loads of Champions League games and not only do I think, from what I've seen at the very top level, that he is a really brilliant player in the Premier League, but by the looks of things he's a brilliant player in Europe as well."

There is no doubting Young's skill, speed and ability at set-pieces but the international stage has not yet seen the best he has to offer.

The Stevenage-born former Watford trainee has six England caps to his name - the last of which came against Holland in August.

And O'Neill believes it will only be a matter of time.

"Someone was saying that at England he's a bit quieter than he would be here, I think all of that will come, I do honestly," added the Villa boss.

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