Everton are the inspiration for Aston Villa's current surge towards a Champions League berth, Villa boss Martin O'Neill has asserted, ahead of his team's visit to Goodison Park in the fifth round of the FA Cup this weekend.

Everton managed the feat in 2004/05, and pipped Liverpool, one of the modern giants and a member of the so-called 'big four,' to a spot at Europe's top table, before crashing out of the competition, somewhat unfortunately, to Villarreal in the qualifying stages, and going on to struggle for the rest of that season.

But the Irishman has hailed the achievement of his Scottish counterpart at Goodison Park, David Moyes, claiming that the Toffees helped show Villa that the feat was manageable.

"The season they were in the Champions League I thought they were unlucky to go out to Villarreal, and that was the season I think they went on to struggle a little bit," ONeill told The Birmingham Mail earlier.

"But the overall picture at Everton has been one of really steady progress. Theyre the only side to have broken through against the top four, so from that they must take great credit."

Even though the Villans have a slightly higher-status European past than their rivals from the city of Liverpool, O'Neill still feels the West Midlanders can learn much from Everton's progress.

"Villa have a history and have actually won the European Cup," the former Celtic manager continued.

"But in recent seasons Everton are as good an example as anybody of a side that can compete and who are at it every single week. Thats what we want to do.

"My own view is that were a different style to Everton but that does not mean we shouldnt take the good ingredients of what theyve done and try to emulate them."