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Downing's return pleases gaffer
Aston Villa, 18:25, November 22, 2009 ,
Martin O'Neill has spoken of his delight at finally seeing Stewart Downing in an Aston Villa shirt in his side's 1-1 draw at Burnley.
The £12m summer signing from Middlesbrough came on in the 70th minute at Turf Moor to make his first appearance since breaking a bone in his foot last May.
O'Neill knows Downing has a long way to go until he rediscovers the form which made him a regular in the England squad but he is pleased to have him available for consideration.
The Villa boss said: "Just to get on the field of play is a very positive sign for him.
"It might still be a bit too early as, in terms of proper fitness, it will be hard for him at the moment because of the amount of football he has not played.
"I'll be the first to tell you he is not entirely fit but he has been desperate to be involved with us.
"He will benefit from that [run out] and he can only improve from there.
"He's a very decent player, he's played a number of times for England and he can play.
"But I think if he stays clear of injury we'll see the best of him from Christmas onwards."
Emile Heskey scored the late equaliser to cancel out Steven Caldwell's first-half opener and rescue a point for Villa.