ASTON Villa manager Martin O’Neill is expecting midfielder Gareth Barry to make no decision on his future until after England’s two summer internationals.

Barry has only 12 months left on his current deal and has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football, a goal which has eluded Villa this season after fading in the second half of the campaign.

The England midfielder looked set to join Liverpool in an £18m move last summer, only for the Reds to pull out after being unable to match Villa’s asking price.

O’Neill said: ‘‘We have had discussions with Gareth’s agent. They have gone very well. They have been very open and amicable and straightforward.

‘‘There are things for the player to consider and for us to think about but I have said to him there is absolutely no need to rush into anything.

‘‘He has this game against Newcastle on Sunday and then the England internationals to look forward to. I’m sure he won’t get his head around everything until those two World Cup games are over.

‘‘After he has played in those, then there will be time for proper discussions. We would like him to stay.

‘‘But I also understand, after giving us this extra season, if someone offers him the opportunity to play in the Champions League, that is something he would look at and we would look at.’’ O’Neill is aware that victory for Villa against Alan Shearer’s side could send Newcastle down into the Coca-Cola Championship.

But he insists that Villa have their own goals to achieve by winning tomorrow, notably aiming to finish fifth – one place higher than last season – and overtaking their points tally for the 2007- 2008 campaign.

He said: ‘‘I certainly don’t think we will be laying down our arms. We will be going to try to win the game.

‘‘We have the possibility of finishing fifth and getting more points than last season and those are the rewards we want to try to claim.

‘‘Alan Shearer wouldn’t expect any favours from us. The relegation battle is very fascinating and we are embroiled in it to the last.”