Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has admitted he may have to wait until January before he can make major inroads into the transfer market.

O'Neill is due to meet new Villa owner Randy Lerner in the next couple of days to draw up prospective plans in terms of team strengthening. But he accepts the time-scale - the transfer window closes next Thursday - means he may only be able to make limited purchases by August 31.

O'Neill, whose side entertain Newcastle on Sunday, said: "At some stage I will obviously sit down and give Randy an assessment of the strengths of the squad and what I think will be needed. But whether that is done in time for Thursday is really another issue and I wouldn't be holding out on it."