Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has reluctantly admitted he may have to sell out-of-favour midfielder Craig Gardner in January. The 23-year-old has only made one Premier League appearance so far this season – against Bolton in November last year – and is frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities. One-club man Gardner faces fierce competition from the likes of James Milner, Ashley Young and Stiliyan Petrov at Villa Park and rivals Wolves and Birmingham have been credited with an interest in the England Under-21 regular. O'Neill wants to keep a large squad in anticipation of Villa securing Champions League football next season but accepts he may have to let Gardner go. He the Daily Mirror: "In an ideal world I would like him to stay, but players like to play."