New Scotland star says former Aston Villa boss doubted his ability to become top player
New Scotland cap Barry Bannan says that his former manager at Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill, said that the youngster would never make it as a top professional footballer due to his size.
O'Neill, who left the English Premier League club just five days before the start of the new season, had told the 5' 7” midfielder that he did not have the physical attributes required of a player in the top flight of English football.
However, after the Irishman's departure, Bannan was given his league debut by new manager Gerard Houllier in August and the 20-year-old has excelled for the side ever since.
His performances led to him receiving his first call-up to the Scotland national team squad, and he made his full international debut in the 3-0 win over Faroe Islands on Wednesday 17 November.
He told the Daily Record that he would never have been able to play for his country if O'Neill had remained at the club Bannan has with since he was 14-years-old.
Bannan said that: "Martin had size issues with me and he kept bringing them up in conversation over the many meetings we had when he was at Villa. The only thing that kept me going during that period of rejection was when I said to myself, 'some day somebody
will show confidence in you'.
“I've experienced a total change of fortune since Gerard arrived at the club. The next competitive international isn't until the start of next season. That means I have to stay in Villa's team and keep my mind focused on winning Scotland's attention. Otherwise
there's no place in the Euro 2012 qualification squad for me. I've got one cap and now I'm hungry for more. I know I wouldn't have got a chance at Aston Villa if Martin O'Neill had stayed there as manager. Now I'm enjoying every minute of life under his successor."
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