Barry struggled last season when talks over a new contract dragged on until he signed a new deal in the summer and so far this campaign he has seldom been at his best.

He said: “The manager thinks I can raise my game and at the moment he may be right. I think I’ve got a lot more to come and my form this season has not been ideal.

“Hopefully I can start to put that right in the next few games. The manager has shown a lot of faith in me and hopefully I can prove that his justification for playing me is right.”

O’Leary said: “I was told in the year before I came here, when Villa nearly got relegated, that Gareth was outstanding for the team.

“I don’t think he performed to that level last season in any way. There were just bits and pieces, and he has been the same this season. We are expecting Gareth to do better.”

Meanwhile, central defender Liam Ridgewell today resumed full training after more than two months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage suffered during Villa’s pre-season tour of Sweden.

The England U21 player has been pencilled in to have his first taste of action in next Tuesday’s reserve outing with Newcastle.

Ridgewell, who started the final three Premiership matches of last season, has only 18 months left of his current contract and wants to make a favourable impression on O’Leary.

He said: “I want to put this injury behind me and put in the type of performances that will give the manager a headache.

“Hopefully I can make my mark in the 18 months I’ve got left of my contract and convince the manager that I can make the grade.”