Martin O’Neill didn’t need very long to convince Stewart Downing to commit his future to Aston Villa. But he may have his work cut out for him if he hopes to reposition the left-winger to the centre of the park.

Upon signing a new four-year contract at Villa Park, Downing admitted that the manager had convinced him to join Villa after only a brief discussion at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training complex. Both men clearly made a very quick and positive impression on one another, an impression that earned Downing a wage packet worth 50,000 pounds per week. Whether he knows it already or not, the 24-year-old will probably be expected to earn that money in an unfamiliar role.

Barring a sudden and ill-advised transfer, Ashley Young will begin the upcoming season in his usual position on Aston Villa’s left, attacking flank. That’s typically where Downing is most comfortable as well. But with Gareth Barry’s exit having left a massive, creative gap in the centre of midfield, O’Neill will move Downing to the ex-skipper’s old position alongside Stiliyan Petrov or Steve Sidwell, or both.

Those are the options that O’Neill suddenly has. And that, as much as anything, makes the 12 million pound capture of Downing a very good one. If he weren’t to make another signing this summer (which is unlikely) O’Neill could either play Downing in a midfield foursome with Young, Petrov or Sidwell, and James Milner or switch to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation with Downing, Petrov or Sidwell, and James Milner supporting Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor on the advanced flanks, with one of the big men in front of goal. The manager will probably tinker with both options, although the latter will likely be his go-to formation in Europe.

These, however, are questions for another day. At the moment, O’Neill is finally beginning to assert himself in the transfer market, and that should be encouraging to Villa fans. Downing was a very good signing, and Sylvain Distin will be worth every penny of the three million pounds currently on offer to Portsmouth, especially when you factor in the 3.5 million likely to be recouped from the probable sale of Zat Knight.

The only downside in all this is that Downing won’t be available until October. After undergoing surgery to repair a foot injury suffered in Middlesbrough’s late-season match against Villa, the England international has been on crutches all summer and will only have the screw removed in September.

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