Carew expecting Villa improvements

Striker John Carew is confident Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will find a suitable replacement for wantaway captain Gareth Barry and "make the team even stronger" for next season.

Barry's move to Liverpool could gather momentum now manager Rafael Benitez has additional funds at his disposal after agreeing to sell striker Peter Crouch to Portsmouth.

"That is football and that's the way things work and now we are just waiting to see who comes in to replace him - but I think it will be a good player coming in," said Carew.

Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell is likely to become O'Neill's first summer signing, although there is reported late interest from Newcastle.

And Carew, the club's top scorer with 13 goals last season, is adamant the players are focusing on the future and not the impending departure of Barry after 10 years at Villa.

"What is happening with Gareth is part of football. I don't think anyone is shocked, although you don't want to lose someone who was one of our best players last year and for all the seasons he has been at Villa.

"It is sad like Gareth is going but I don't use much energy on it. I am focusing on the team we have here, the players we have here, and not all the surroundings.

"In the end we will get new players which hopefully will make the team stronger than before."

O'Neill has still to make any new additions but Carew has faith in the manager, who has often tended to make signings near the end of transfer windows.

The Norway international said: "I think the players are quite calm. The players' business is to go out and work 100% and not stick our noses into anything else. We have to concentrate on ourselves if we are going to be 100% and we are all confident the club will do the rest."