Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill could be faced with a right-back dilemma for Saturday's home Premier League clash with Sunderland.O'Neill has operated all season without a specialist player in that position after he sold Aaron Hughes to Fulham and Mark Delaney's retired with a long-term knee problem.

Centre-back Olof Mellberg has fulfilled the role for most of the campaign but the Juventus-bound player is suspended against the Black Cats after his sending-off against Portsmouth for two bookable offences.

Midfielder Craig Gardner is the other player to have occupied the right-back slot this season but he is currently struggling with a back problem which forced him to be substituted at half-time in the mid-week draw with Middlesbrough.

The England Under-21 player was not fit enough to be part of the Villa 16 for the 2-0 reversal at Fratton Park which put a big dent in their European hopes.

Mellberg admitted: "The defeat at Portsmouth was a massive disappointment. It was a game we really wanted to win to keep pushing for a European spot.

"We created chances and didn't finish them, the first goal we conceded was cheap from a long ball and the second one was unfortunate."

O'Neill insisted Villa have not given up on securing a European place and Everton's surprise defeat at Fulham still gives them a ray of hope.

He said: "There's plenty to play for. Portsmouth, Blackburn, Manchester City are all there with also something to play for. There is still nearly a quarter of the season left to go. There are a lot of points up for grabs still.

"I know the sixth place qualification has disappeared because of the teams who have reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup but the season is alive."

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