O'Neill wary of struggling Hammers

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has warned his players to beware a wounded West Ham at Upton Park on Wednesday night.

Villa travel to East London knowing that a win would move them up to fourth in the table but they are facing a West Ham side whose solitary Premier League victory came on the opening day of the season when they beat top-flight new boy Wolves.

"I would think they should have more points on the board but I thought their fight-back against Arsenal was fantastic," O'Neill said. "So back at Upton Park I would expect them to be a really tough test."

He added: "Am I surprised by the start they have made? I would have expected them to have more points.

"I have seen them quite a few times this season. I was obviously looking when there was a possibility that James Collins would be available so I saw them early season."

O'Neill could recall striker John Carew to the starting line-up after he came off the bench at Everton last weekend to grab Villa's equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

It was Carew's first league goal of the season and O'Neill hopes he can build on that.

O'Neill added: "That goal will do John the world of good. I just think getting goals for a centre forward is brilliant news."