Lapland for Carew

Martin O'Neill have revealed how he doesn't mind John Carew visiting the odd lap-dancing club and how one trip last year has been well and truly forgotten.

The big Norwegian angered O'Neill just before Christmas by going to a lap-dancing club only hours before a UEFA cup game against Ajax.

The Irishman inevitably threw the book at him with a £100,000 fine and was met with the excuse that he didn't think he was in the squad but Carew knew that he had done wrong and accepted the fine.

But its all forgiveness at Villa Park even with the fans belting out the chant 'Get your T*ts out for Carew' and as Martin O'Neill tells the Daily Star its all behind them as they chase Arsenal.

“John can be anything he wants to be. He’s a very talented player – not just a big lump. He has a lot of talent and the crowd like him a lot.

“He’s an absolute handful but everything is really up to him at the end of it all.

“He can do it but if you want to be known as a really feared centre-forward you have to be consistently excellent.

“He’s done exceptionally well and has had a frustrating time of things this season with a back injury and one thing or another.

“But what he needs is that high level of consistency when you are doing it 80 per cent of the time.”

And with the signing of Emile Heskey, did it mean Carew's days were numbered?

“I do think he’s got a future here and, yes, I do think he’s happy here. I’m very pleased with him.”

“Wandering down the street at 2am on a day when you may be playing isn’t great. He’s pretty inconspicuous isn’t he?”

“It’s a big game and one we need to win – but the funny thing is the players go into it with their confidence restored despite our recent form and the fact we ended up losing at Manchester United after being in front,” he said.

“We go into the game with confidence and still feel we can have a real go at taking fourth spot.”

By Steven Fisher