Milner dropped from pre-season match to avoid Barry-style abuse from fans

James Milner has been spared a humiliating public backlash from Aston Villa fans on Tuesday night after showdown talks with Martin O'Neill.

England midfielder Milner, 24, returned to training at Villa yesterday despite still being expected to join Man City.

He held amicable talks with Villa boss O'Neill and chief executive Paul Faulkner.

And the star is part of the Villa squad to travel to Portugal on Tuesday on pre-season tour.

But he has been excused from tonight's friendly at local League One club Walsall by O'Neill, who has to sell-to-buy this summer.

Milner has now avoided a potentially stormy first run-out since returning from an extended break following international duty.

Villa supporters have been angry with Milner since last week when O'Neill claimed the player asked to leave in an end-of-season meeting.

It is similar to two years ago on July 22 when fellow England midfielder Gareth Barry played for Villa at Walsall after declaring his wish to join Liverpool.

Barry, 29, was subjected to widespread boos and jeers from Villa fans despite his years of service to the club.

Fans shouted: 'Judas', 'Barry Who?' and 'You're Not Fit To Wear The Shirt' at Barry.

But Barry's Liverpool move was aborted when the Anfield club refused to meet Villa's firm £18m asking price.

And Barry knuckled down to eventually silence the jeers before finally joining City last summer for £12m.

Now Milner also wants to link up with Barry and join City's revolution under their mega-rich Abu Dhabi owners.

But Milner doesn't need to worry about getting injured tonight or receiving flak from fans at Walsall.

Villa boss O'Neill has admitted Milner can leave if the club's asking price is met.

City had an initial bid for Milner of £18m plus £2m in add-ons rejected by Villa in May.

Villa value Milner, who has 11 caps, at £30m while City only want to pay £24m so negotiations are deadlocked.

Milner is now set to travel to Portugal for this weekend's Guadiana Cup in which Villa will compete with Benfica and Feyenoord.

But many Villa supporters, including Holte End season-ticket holder Lee Lindsay, want to see Milner dropped from the squad immediately.

Lindsay, 28, said: "It's come as a total shock to most Villa fans that Milner is travelling with the squad to Portugal as the general consensus and feeling amongst us is he's already practically left.

"I can't imagine any fan wants to keep a player who doesn't want to play for the club.

"Whatever happens, I'd like it to happen soon.

"With only five weeks left of the transfer window and less than three weeks until the season starts, Villa need to get down to business and hit the late summer sales again.

"Villa desperately need a striker, a creative midfielder, and a third goal keeper if not a long term replacement for Brad Friedel.

"If selling Milner is key to fund our spending and the player wants to go then I'm happy to see him leave."

City offer SWP to Villa as makeweight in Milner deal