Berger to remain a Villan

Former Liverpool winger Patrik Berger is to be rewarded for the recent upturn in his form by being offered a new contract at Aston Villa, the club confirmed on Wednesday. Czech international Berger, 33, was loaned out to Stoke in November following a breach of club discipline and appeared to be living on borrowed time at Villa Park. But he has recently returned to the first team and done enough to convince manager Martin O'Neill that he is worth holding on to. Berger joined Villa in July 2005 on a free transfer from Portsmouth.