Reo-Coker: Villa in safe hands

Nigel Reo-Coker insists Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will have "many leaders to choose from" if he has to find a replacement for midfielder Gareth Barry as skipper.

Reo-Coker was given the captain's armband for Saturday's Intertoto Cup victory over Odense BK at Villa Park and admits he would be "very flattered" if offered the post permanently.

He had previously been skipper at West Ham and also led England Under-21s and will be a prime candidate if O'Neill is unable to persuade Barry to shelve plans to move to Liverpool.

But Reo-Coker knows O'Neill has many options he could consider should he be forced to search for a full-time successor to Barry, who has been captain for the past two seasons in succession to Olof Mellberg.

He told PA Sport: "I've captained West Ham and Under-21s, so I have got the experience behind me, and it was fantastic to lead the side out on Saturday.

"To be able to say 'I captained Aston Villa' - one of only four English teams to win the European Cup - is a real honour. I am sure Martin will give it to whom he feels is right for the job. When the time is right, I am sure Martin O'Neill will let us know what the situation is.

"There are a lot of leaders in our team and for me that is all that matters. As long as we have got more than one leader, that is a great thing to have in your team.

"We have got other players who have already captained. You've got Martin Laursen, John Carew, Curtis Davies. We've got a lot of leaders in the team and that is all that matters to me."

Reo-Coker added: "If it was offered to me, I'd be very flattered. It would be fantastic for me to captain such a historic club and such a big club. It is something you take with you to the grave.

"It is a life experience, something you can't really put into words. Not many people can live their life and have the opportunities to do that and captain a club so big as Aston Villa."