Taylor has revealed that he only bought Swedish striker Marcus Allback because he expected Juan Pablo Angel to quit the club.

But the Villa manager is now delighted to have the pair battling with England international Darius Vassell and Peter Crouch for spots in his starting line-up.

Taylor had been resigned to losing record-signing Angel, who was unhappy at the way he and his family had been treated by the club.

"I did not think that Juan Pablo would be with us at this stage of the season," he said.

"I was so sure when I came back to Villa that he would have joined another club, that I went out and signed Marcus Allback.

"I had to buy him because I thought we would have an offer for Angel that was acceptable to this club."

But the Colombian has not asked to leave and Villa have received no concrete offers for him.

"I don't have a problem with it. Both Juan Pablo and I know the situation.

"No clubs have come in for him and he is still a Villa player. He hasn't asked to leave the club.

"If I can go into the Premiership season with Juan Pablo and Marcus plus Darius Vassell and Peter Crouch in the squad, to name just four, then I am not going to be disappointed."