O'Neill slams FA over Germany clash

Martin O'Neill says next week's England friendly against Germany is "pointless" even if Gabriel Agbonlahor gets to make his debut.

The Villa boss has criticised the Football association's timing of the fixture, which comes right in the middle of the busiest period of fixtures and insisted he would not change his opinion if Agbonlahor is called up to the senior squad.

O'Neill is concerned that players are at the risk of "burn-out" because of the "relentless" demands of the football calendar.

"I think it's pointless," he said. "We will be interrupting Cup finals next for friendly games. And I wouldn't accept it was a really good idea simply because Gabi or Ashley [Young] might get a call-up.

"I can understand an international manager's viewpoint but there has got to be some sort of recognition for the players not getting a break at all. The timing of this one - there is not another [England] game for some time. I'm looking at it from a selfish, club-manager view point and I don't see the point in this international. I don't know what it is leading up to. It's not as if there is a game around the corner. There is such a thing as a meaningless friendly."

O'Neill added that he hopes England coach Fabio Capello will not rush to judge his 22-year-old striker on one performance In Berlin.

"Things can happen in the course of the game [but] what I wouldn't want is final judgements made on a player in one particular game or after one half of a game," said the Villa manager.

"That's when the pressure might build up and you would feel that you have to really impress. But, by the same token, I still don't want to get away from the point that, if you get time on the field use it to impress. Every minute is priceless."