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ELITE AIM FOR REO-COKER
Reo-Coker - wants top four spot.
Nigel Reo-Coker has challenged his Aston Villa team-mates to prove they belong in the top four of the Premier League.
Villa moved into the Champions League places with victory at Tottenham last night - and midfielder Reo-Coker insists they do not fear any opponents.
The majority of Martin O'Neill's first team are English, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young leading suggestions they could rub shoulders with the traditional heavyweights of the top flight.
"It's a fair compliment but we have to go and prove that," Reo-Coker said. "Talk is cheap, it's about proving that and doing it.
"I feel we're equipped to beat anybody on our day in this league. That's the attitude we want to have, we don't have any fear.
"With the pace that we have in the team and the quality of players we have, we are a threat to any team. It doesn't matter who we play."
Reo-Coker, 24, feels the homegrown feel to O'Neill's squad gives them a different edge.
"A lot of us have played numerous games in the Championship and the Premiership so we've got the experience in the English league to know what it's like," said the former West Ham midfielder.
"We've got the experience to know what it's like when you get a build-up of games.
"That's what the manager has gone for - the experience of playing in the English league - so we haven't had to adapt to the English game, there's no excuses."
On a personal level, Reo-Coker scored his first league goal for Villa when he netted the first at White Hart Lane, and he wants to be on the scoresheet on a regular basis to get recognition from England boss Fabio Capello.
"Goals are what's missing in my game and that's something I need to add if I want to get to the next level," he said.
"As long as I play my part in the team and I'm used to being the tidy-up guy, I'm okay with that."
