Lee Hendrie: Not just a pretty face

David O'Leary, or at least we are led to believe it is David O'Leary has said told PA Sport today "Lee Hendrie has been available to me for eight or nine games this season,"

"He missed a load of games at the start of the season because of a stupid sending-off, then he got a knee injury. Now he has a chance to establish himself again."

Now we're not one to jump on the David O'Leary bandwagon but isn't he stating the bloody obvious and why couldn't he have said this publicly (we use the word 'publicly' very carefully) when Hendrie started suggesting a move away from Villa Park was the best thing for him?

We'll tell you why - it's because O'Leary had no intention of playing Hendrie if he could keep Bakke. Hendrie might not be the brightest or best looking player at Villa Park but we think he's smart enough to know that when he has played this season he's looked sharper, better and more up for it than other Villa players.

Hendrie will know it's only a matter of time before O'Leary has gone and he's figured out very quickly that all you have to do with this manager is threaten leaving and you get to play every game.

Before we go, if you get a red card you get a three match ban.