Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov believes his midfield partner Nigel Reo-Coker will be "a very important player" in the club's push for honours this season.

Reo-Coker was involved in a training-ground spat with Villa manager Martin O'Neill last month and was left out of the squad for the home clash with Portsmouth.

The former West Ham skipper has only had a bit-part role in O'Neill's plans since then but returned to the starting XI for Wednesday's Carling Cup clash at Sunderland.

Petrov believes the bust-up with O'Neill has been consigned to history and feels every player will have a key role to play in the hectic schedule lying ahead.

Petrov said: "Nigel is a very important player for us. He has shown over the years he is a fighter, he is a character and what happened is away (has gone).

"We don't even pay attention to this anymore (the bust-up). Nigel is back, he performed very well against Sunderland, was very strong and he showed the manager how important he is to us.

"Everyone started the season well including Nigel and it is great to see Nigel back."

Petrov added: "Sometimes things like that happen (the bust-up) and some players lose their head in training.

"But Nigel has been really working hard and he showed that the other night as well at Sunderland as well.

"It is a long season and we are going to need every player especially with cup games coming up as well, quick and fast.

"We have a very hectic schedule this month and next month so the manager will need everyone available."

Villa needed extra-time and a penalty shoot-out to dispose of the Black Cats but Petrov is confident tiredness will not be a factor for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash at Everton.

He said: "We will be fine. It is our job and we need to make sure we recover and we will be ready for the Everton game.

"It was a long and hard night against Sunderland and we have one more day to recover and I think we will be fine against Everton."