International duty good for team morale, says Houllier

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier was proud of Darren Bent and Ashley Young after they shone for England and believes his club will be the ultimate beneficiaries.

Bent and Young scored the goals as England beat Denmark 2-1 in Copenhagen on Wednesday, with Stewart Downing also featuring for the Three Lions.

And with Houllier able to welcome back Gabriel Agbonlahor, who missed the England game due to personal reasons, for Saturday’s clash with Blackpool, he believes England’s success will benefit Villa.

“I was proud,” he said “You are always proud when players go to the national team. We had players everywhere.”

“When you are a manager, I know it sometimes brings some inconvenience because you may have injuries and may have a bit of tiredness.”

“But you are proud to have your players selected because that means they are doing well in the league and means they are well prepared and trusted.”

And Houllier says he is now ready to bury the hatchet with Blackpool boss Ian Holloway after the two managers fell out over Villa’s offer for Bloomfield Road skipper Charlie Adam.

Holloway was fuming with Villa’s offer, with Houllier suggesting that he was being attacked because he was French.

But after the Blackpool boss suggested he would make up with Houllier, the former Liverpool boss agreed to let the matter lie.

“I took on board the gracious words and it is water under the bridge,” said Houllier.

“Where he is wrong is when he said we made it (their interest in Adam) public. We never made it public on our side.”

“It came from their side but it is finished now and we have taken other players and we are happy with the squad and that’s it. Anyway, I will be happy to see him.”

Jean Makoun has been training and should return at Bloomfield Road, along with new signing Michael Bradley after the American was granted a visa. Nathan Baker is suspended.