Approaching his first derby as manager of Aston Villa, Martin O’Neill picks his words carefully. “These are big games. You hope that they become really big. It would be interesting to see how many times these clubs have played each other over the last 40 years; it would not be as often as they should.”

Though today’s game at St Andrews is his 50th Premier League match in charge, some Villa fans may feel O’Neill has yet to completely identify with what it means to be a Villan. Insisting on looking beyond today’s game, on seeing it as a part of a bigger picture, may be a case in point.

“We have to go out, try and perform as well as we can, accept the occasion for what it is, and try and win,” said O’Neill. “It’s the start of a really important time for us. Round this time last year, we weren’t strong enough, didn’t have any back-up. I’m hoping we’re stronger.”

They certainly are. Signings such as Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew and the impressive Ashley Young have made an impact, the classy centre-half Martin Laursen has returned from long-term injury, and youngsters such as Gabriel Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner keep progressing. “This is a game I’m looking forward to, in an odd sort of way. We have a young side that is coming together not badly, and experiences like this will stand them in good stead,” said O’Neill. “We have got 10 games between now and the New Year, which is a big ask, but in the not too distant future we’ll be able to cope with the loss of big players.”

If some signings have started well, O’Neill accepts that another, Stiliyan Petrov, his former player at Celtic, has yet to convince. The contrast with the confidence being shown by the likes of Young is clear, he said.

“Ashley found the confidence to say to himself, ‘I have the ability to go past players, and I’m going to take them on, and if I lose the ball I’m not going to get despondent because if I take someone on three or four times, and go past him and create something, it’s all worthwhile’.

“That’s the sign of a great player. You have to have that confidence.” And you have to show it in matches like today’s. Scott Carson, the Liverpool goalkeeper on loan at Villa Park, has been cleared to make his move permanent. Villa have already paid £1.75m for the loan period and will be allowed to keep Carson if they top it up to £10m, a British record for a keeper.