Routledge cost Villa �1.5m in the January transfer window

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has admitted Wayne Routledge has not played more because he is low on confidence and is struggling to beat players.

The 23-year-old winger joined Villa in January on an initial 18-month contract from Spurs but is yet to make any of Villa's matchday squads since.

"Obviously his confidence is low and he's lost the knack of going past players," O'Neill told BBC WM.

"He has some real class in training but it's a case of getting his confidence."

Routledge got his Villa career seemingly off to the perfect start when he scored for the reserves on his debut.

But consistent form has not followed, although O'Neill is sure it will return.

"When he does go past players he can deliver a really, really fine ball. It's now just a matter of his confidence and taking players on."