Martin O'Neill has insisted Aston Villa have not been affected by the fatigue factor despite having the smallest squad in the Premier League.O'Neill has had to play the likes of England trio Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor in virtually every game because of the lack of numbers.
But the Villa manager believes the lack of involvement in Europe or any lengthy cup runs means his players have been able to cope.
O'Neill said: "I don't see any fatigue and I don't see any reason for it.
"If we were involved in European competition or the latter stages of the FA Cup or Carling Cup, then you'd start counting up the number of games you play.
"If in those circumstances you were going in with the same players, week in, week out - plus those players getting no respite in international week - I'd understand if fatigue was involved.
"But most of the players here want to play every single week because we haven't had those distractions.
"As a result, I don't see our schedule as being a tiring thing. The minute you start talking about being tired, you'll feel tired.
"But if I said to Gareth Barry 'I'm going to rest you for a week' I don't think there would be a more disappointed man in the whole of Birmingham.
"These players are capable of going on. If this time next year we were lucky enough to be competing in European football, then there may be a reason for resting someone in a particular week because it will have an affect."
O'Neill added: "Neither Nigel Reo-Coker or Ashley Young got a proper rest last summer because of their involvement in the Under-21 Championships but you couldn't say Ashley's form has disintegrated because of it.
"Most of those lads want to play in the games. I'm hoping our problems arise when we have a bigger and better squad to choose from and that's something we'll address in the summer."
Craig Gardner is winning his battle to be fit after missing the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth last weekend with a back injury.
He is set to fill in at right-back for Olof Mellberg who will be serving a one match suspension for his red card at Fratton Park.
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