Aston Villa: Ian Taylor raves about Nigel Reo-Coker's resurgence

Oct 10 2010 by Mathew Kendrick, Sunday Mercury

FORMER Aston Villa midfield favourite Ian Taylor is delighted to see Nigel Reo-Coker battling on the Villa Park pitch rather than the Bodymoor Heath training fields.

Reo-Coker is undergoing an early-season revival with Gerard Houllier’s claret and blues just over a year on from his bust-up with former Villa boss Martin O’Neill.

The ball-winning midfielder’s well-publicised contretemps with O’Neill last September summed up another frustrating season for the former West Ham captain.

But Reo-Coker is enjoying a new lease of life under Houllier after completing all three of the new manager’s first games against Blackburn, Wolves and Tottenham.

It is the first time the holding player has held down a regular place in the Villa starting line up for quite a while – particularly in his natural position in the centre.

The 26-year-old Londoner has played second fiddle to Gareth Barry and James Milner in recent seasons, but is currently the first choice alongside captain Stiliyan Petrov.

Indeed, Reo-Coker has been so impressive as Villa’s engine room enforcer that new signing Stephen Ireland has been left kicking his heels on the subs bench.

And Taylor believes Reo-Coker is showing encouraging signs of regaining his confidence – after being forced to settle for a bit part role under O’Neill.

The former Holte End hero is a friend of Reo-Coker’s and admits that the ex-England under-21 star’s morale took a bit of a battering last season.

“I’m glad Nigel’s had a bit of a revival – if you can call two or three games a revival!” said Taylor.

“There’s not just Nigel who has had a new lease of life with the new manager coming in.

“Obviously he has decided to have to take a look at a few people and find out what his best team is.

“I think Nigel, with all that happened under the last manager, will be delighted that someone has come in and given him a chance.

“His big problem has been nailing down a first team place.

“When you’re coming in for a couple of games now and again it’s really difficult to get yourself going.

“I think his confidence was really knocked with the Martin O’Neill fiasco that he had and the falling out and everything.