Express & Star: Martin O'Neill has scrapped plans for Villa to return to North America on tour - because of their involvement in the Intertoto Cup. The Villa boss admitted he was tempted by a return to Canada and the United States after last year's successful trip to play Major League side Toronto and Columbus Crew. But with a two-legged Intertoto tie on July 19/20 and 26/27 offering the gateway to the UEFA Cup, O'Neill believes Villa's needs are best served with preparations closer to home. Friendlies away to Lincoln (July 15), Walsall (July 22) and Reading (August 2) have so far been arranged, and a training camp in Spain may also form part of their plans.

Birmingham Mail: Martin O'Neill is believed to have cooled his interest in signing Scott Carson on a permanent basis as he focuses on the three potential recruits he believes could thrive at Villa Park. The Villa boss was offered Carson at a reduced £6million fee by Rafa Benitez as a sweetener to try and advance his negotiations to buy Gareth Barry, but O'Neill still thinks that is too much. The Villa boss instead has turned to Manchester United's Ben Foster on loan, as revealed by the Mail yesterday and American 'keeper Brad Guzan. O'Neill will also have one eye on the Championship play-off between Hull City and Bristol City as he watches Boaz Myhill who would become a realistic target if Hull lose out on promotion.

Setanta Sports: Gareth Barry says England's failure to qualify for this summer's European Championships will not hit home until the tournament in Austria and Switzerland gets underway in June. The Aston Villa midfielder's future at the Midlands outfit has been under intense scrutiny over recent weeks with Liverpool chasing his signature, and the Euros would have been the perfect opportunity for Barry to take his mind off such issues. However, that will not be the case and Barry says kick off on June 7 will be when the true reality kicks in. "It probably won't hit home until the tournament kicks-off when you see all the best teams in Europe competing," he said. "But we have two friendlies that can help us take our minds off it, but once the tournament kicks-off it will sink in for the nation."

BBC Sport: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill would love the chance to evoke a few memories by returning to Northern Ireland in the third round of the Intertoto Cup. Villa will face O'Neill's former club Lisburn Distillery if the Irish side beat Finland's TPS Turku and Odense BK, from Denmark, in their qualifying ties. O'Neill began his career with the club and won the Irish Cup in 1971 before moving to Nottingham Forest. "It would be absolutely astonishing if we ended up playing them," O'Neill said.

Sky Sports: England star Gareth Barry has told skysports.com that the disappointment of not making the finals of Euro 2008 will not hit home until the tournament has started. England were dumped out at the qualifying stage with Russia and Croatia booking their places in Austria & Switzerland ahead of the Three Lions. Barry, who is enjoying being back in the international squad after four-years away, is now looking forward to England's forthcoming friendlies with the USA and Trinidad & Tobago. But the Aston Villa midfielder knows it will be hard for the nation to take when the finals get underway. "It probably won't [hit home] until the tournament kicks-off when you see all the best teams in Europe competing," he told skysports.com. "But we have two friendlies that can help us take our minds off it, but once the tournament kicks-off it will sink in for the nation."