Aston Villa are to offer midfielder Patrik Berger a new contract. The 33-year-old Czech appeared to be on his way out of the midlands side earlier this season.

He was loaned out to Stoke in November following a breach of club discipline but he returned to make an impact off the substitutes' bench and has started in their three matches prior to the weekend win at Manchester City.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "I'll definitely be offering something to him. He has done brilliantly - really great. He didn't start on Saturday but I wouldn't read too much into that.

"If he can remain fit for a year - and that's the big thing - then I think he'd be able to make the same contribution as he has since January.

"I wouldn't want to minimise that in any way because he came on in games where he's been really brilliant.

"He has given us that bit of composure which was what we needed at that stage because things were getting a bit frantic."

He added: "There are not too many players outside of the top teams at this minute who have Patrik's vision.

"I never said his career here was finished, but you would have got long odds on the contribution he has made after going to Stoke because he didn't really get into their team.

"He came back, and I think the realisation that the great days as a footballer playing in front of big crowds might be over has maybe given him that inspiration which has brought out the very best in him.

"The main thing is that he's been fit - or mostly fit - the two games in three days over Easter probably did for him."

Berger joined Villa in July 2005 on a free transfer from Portsmouth.