John Carew sure Aston Villa will progress despite loss of Gareth Barry

The Aston Villa forward, John Carew, believes the Midlands club will be stronger next season despite the sudden lost of captain Gareth Barry.

Villa looked set to clinch a Champions League spot during the previous campaign, especially when they held a six-point lead over fifth-placed Arsenal, but a sudden dip in form saw them eventually finished sixth, a collapse that helped persuade Barry that it was time to move on. The Villa captain joined City for £12m on Tuesday.



But despite the loss, Carew, who finished as Villa's leading scorer with 15 goals, believes the squad will make progress next season.

"It is a very important season for Aston Villa next season and I think we will be better equipped," said the Norway international. "Overall I think we have improved this season and the players here are getting better and better. What will happen in terms of the squad? I don't know, but with the team we have I think we will get better each year.

"We are learning each season and, if we find ourselves in the same position we did this year, fighting for the top four, I think we will handle it even better.

"Is the squad big enough? For the amount of games we have played this season I think it is okay. If you are going for four competitions, the more good players we have the better – but it's not up to me."

Carew missed the middle third of the campaign with a back problem and is determined to feature more regularly next season.

"I will train over the summer and I will be ready for next season," he said. "Let's hope we can then get off to a flying start."