Barry will have time to settle; VILLA NEWS.

GARETH Barry will be allowed time to find his feet following his failed move to Liverpool before Martin O'Neill seeks private talks with his former skipper to prepare the groundwork for the season ahead.

Barry is away with the England squad and will return ahead of the trip to White Hart Lane. O'Neill admitted Barry's form suffered in the recent defeat at Stoke City because of the drawn-out saga.

He will now attempt to do all he can to keep Barry's form at the consistently high standards of recent years.

"We will just let it settle down," O'Neill said.

"He is staying with us. He wants to get his head down and get back playing in the type of form he got into in the last two years."

Former Villa boss Graham Taylor recently commented that the relationship between Barry and O'Neill could be difficult to repair.

O'Neill jokingly admits few of his players would actually enjoy an evening in his company.

"All I will say is I am absolutely delighted he is staying.

We are in here to try and win some football games."

Agent Alex Black has insisted that any contract talks would be put on hold until the end of the season.

CAPTION(S):

GARETH BARRY.