ASTON Villa hot-shot Dwight Yorke insists his under-the-spotlight partnership with Stan Collymore WILL be a success.

And Yorke believes Collymore, who described Monday's game at Liverpool as "the low point of my career" does have the hunger and desire to succeed.

Collymore was out of sorts on his return to Anfield, clearly affected by the hostile reception towards him, and has managed only one goal since his £7million summer move.

He was also urged to start delivering the goods after the game by Villa assistant manager Allan Evans.

But Yorke, who will partner Colymore when Villa visit the Reebok next week, claimed: "I think our partnership has got half a chance. The important thing is that we are working hard and overall have been starting to create a lot more chances.

"As time goes on, that partnership should continue to build - and hopefully become the most feared in the Premiership.

"I personally believe that the sky is the limit for Stan. We all are aware of how talented he is. He is a tremendous player.

"What it comes down to is how badly he wants to succeed and how far he wants to go as an individual - but I think he does want to succeed and go far.

"He would be silly if he doesn't want it because the world is your oyster when you are playing in the Premiership."

Although Monday may have been a disappointment, Villa manager Brian Little has been generally happy with the performances of Collymore.

Little said: "He has done okay for us. There is still more to come and I think Stan is aware of that. For example the game in Bordeaux last week from his point of view wasn't his best performance.

"But he still came within an inch or two of winning the game for us and that is what we have bought, someone who can change a game in an instant.

"He's done that already on a few occasions. At Barnsley he set up goals for us, at Tottenham he scored a great goal and set up great opportunities. Against Derby last Saturday he was involved in the build-up to both goals.

"Forwards do find it difficult to set games alight all the time and Stan is not someone who has the energy of Dwight Yorke, but we understood what we were getting when he came to us."

Meanwhile, Barry Fry, who helped Collymore build his reputation after signing him at Southend, is backing the striker not to crack under the pressure he now finds himself under due to his relationship with TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson.

It is a similar scenario to Manchester United's David Beckham, who reacted angrily to taunts about his girlfriend Posh Spice by West Ham supporters by gesticulating towards them and didn't look comfortable when he was taunted in last Saturday's Reebok derby.

Fry, now in charge at Peterborough, said: "Stan must not crack up in the same way as Beckham. Top players must realise that when they go out with stunning girlfriends that they must expect banter from football crowds.

"I think most of the chants come from fans who are jealous. It must have an affect, but Stan is big enough to take it. He'll also come through his current goalless spell. I am convinced of that."

Sasa Curcic, who has made his peace with Villa after last season's bust-up, appears to have worked himself back into Brian Little's team at just the right time.

Six months after confessing that leaving Wanderers was the worst mistake of his life, the super Serb could be handed a key role at the Reebok.

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