Telegraph: Norway striker John Carew did not travel to Bulgaria with the rest of the squad as he recovers from the ankle injury he picked up in Monday's win at Tottenham. But manager Martin O'Neill, despite heavy rainfall in Lovech on Wednesday is in confident mood. He said: "The pitch is in good shape. It's a really good pitch but there have been puddles on it and they were concerned about forking it today. "We could have insisted on training on it but we haven't done - I don't see it being a major problem. The weather forecast for tomorrow is a bit brighter and it should be fine. "We have seen videos of them and the players will have looked at those before the game. "But we have sent someone out to the games here: he said this is a very, very decent footballing team. We cannot treat it lightly."

Guardian: Martin O'Neill picked an appropriate moment to praise Stiliyan Petrov last night, with the Aston Villa manager saluting the Bulgarian for his renaissance this season ahead of today's Uefa Cup first-round tie with Litex Lovech in his homeland. The midfielder has endured a difficult two years since arriving from Celtic for £7m but O'Neill believes the 29-year-old, having regained his confidence, has been instrumental in the club's impressive performances this term. "He's had a great start," said O'Neill, who is confident the first leg will go ahead despite thunderstorms in Lovech preventing Villa from training on the pitch yesterday. "At the back end of last season he got a bit of confidence. He moved into what you would perceive as the kind of holding midfield player [role]. Although that was not Stiliyan's position when he played at Celtic, he has adjusted very well. "He is capable of doing it because he has got a bit of discipline about his game but, more importantly, he has got confidence."

Daily Mail: Carlos Cuellar, who makes his Aston Villa debut tonight against Bulgaria's Litex Lovech in the UEFA Cup, can force his way into the Spanish national team, according to Martin O'Neill. Villa boss O'Neill snapped up centre half Cuellar, 27, for £7.8million from Rangers when the Glasgow club were eliminated from European competition by Lithuanians FC Kaunas. Cuellar has been sidelined by a calf injury since his arrival but O'Neill, formerly with Celtic, is an admirer of the player after studying his performances for their cross-city rivals. While Bulgaria swooned over the homecoming of Stiliyan Petrov, O'Neill said: "Carlos's ambition is to play for Spain. He voiced that when he joined us. Absolutely he did. He thinks he's capable of doing it. "Only time will tell whether he will but I think he has the ability to do that."

Birmingham Post: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was praying that the heavy rain in Bulgaria ahead of Thursday's Uefa Cup first round encounter blows over as it puts doubt over whether the game will actually be played. The 7,000-seater Gradski Stadium, home of Villa's Bulgarian opponents, Litex Lovech - was so waterlogged after heavy thunderstorms that the visitors could not train on it. The Villa players did eventually manage to train on a neighbouring pitch and with the weather here forecast to improve, O'Neill was hopeful the game would go ahead - knowing anything else would spell disaster with the team already committed to playing four games in the space of nine days. O'Neill said: "We are playing a really tough game and at the moment the pitch is under water, but thankfully no more rain is predicted. The weather is improving. "The pitch is actually in really good shape even though it is currently under water but I am confident it will be okay. We could have insisted that we train on the pitch but we decided to go on another one. The players have been in to have a look at it and I don't see it being a major problem."

Daily Express: Carlos Cuellar has two targets when he makes his long awaited debut for Aston Villa here today. Manager Martin O'Neill believes summer signing Cuellar can be a big star for Villa - if he manages to break into a side fourth in the Premier League and winning rave reviews. And he could make European champions Spain's new coach Vicente Del Bosque sit up and take notice.

Sky Sports: Nigel Reo-Coker is confident that Aston Villa will prove themselves as serious challengers for the top four. Villa have started the season well and moved into fourth with their victory at Tottenham. Villa have never qualified for the UEFA Champions League but they are amongst the favourites to make the breakthrough this term. Reo-Coker admits it is nice to be branded as a potential Champions League side, but they have to prove themselves. "It's a fair compliment but we have to go and prove that," Reo-Coker said. "Talk is cheap, it's about proving that and doing it. "I feel we're equipped to beat anybody on our day in this league. That's the attitude we want to have, we don't have any fear."

Sky Sports: Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has hailed revitalised midfielder Stiliyan Petrov on his return to his homeland. The Bulgaria international is back home for Thursday's Uefa Cup tie against Litex Lovech, and the last time he faced Litex 10 years ago he was part of a CSKA Sofia team that lost 8-0. The 29-year-old is enjoying happier times this season, though, finally establishing himself at Villa Park after switching to a more defensive role. O'Neill feels Petrov is now reproducing the form that convinced him to splash out £6.5million to bring Petrov from Celtic in 2006. "He's had a great start this season," said O'Neill. "At the back end of last season he got a bit of confidence, he moved into what you would perceive as the kind of holding midfield player and almost swapped positions with Nigel Reo-Coker, who advanced more. "Although that was not Stiliyan's position when he played at Celtic, he has adjusted very well indeed."

Independent: Aston Villa will have to make at least one change for their tie against Litex Lovech in Bulgaria. Norway striker John Carew did not travel with the rest of the squad as he recovers from the ankle injury he picked up in Monday's win at Tottenham. Marlon Harewood will come into contention for the first leg match while James Milner could start for the first time since his move from Newcastle.

Times: Stiliyan Petrov is such a celebrity in Bulgaria that his wedding was shown live on television, but it is his willingness to play a less glamorous role for Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill believes, that is bringing out the best in Gareth Barry. "He has a bit of discipline to his game and he's allowed Gareth Barry to push on in a role he rarely plays for England," said the Villa manager.

Daily Mirror: Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa's Bulgarian star Stiliyan Petrov is ready to break more hearts in his homeland today. The ace is almost as big as Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov in their native land and has been mobbed in Lovech.

Daily Star: Carlos Cuellar makes his long-awaited debut for Aston Villa today with boss Martin O'Neill telling him: Show me you can be the King of Spain. O'Neill will blood his £7.8m central defender in their UEFA Cup match against Litex Lovech in Bulgaria.

Sun: Stiliyan Petrov is so big in Bulgaria that his wedding was beamed live around the country. Now the Aston Villa midfielder is looking for a whole lotta Lovech on national telly again.