Martin O'Neill admits Aston Villa are beginning to crack beneath their over-reliance on youth — and he is ready to open Randy Lerner's chequebook to solve the problem.

Villa have dropped off alarmingly since the heady days of early November when O'Neill had inspired the club to a brief spell in third place in the Barclays Premiership.

They now sit in 12th following a winless run of nine games which could be extended when champions Chelsea visit Villa Park tomorrow night.

Injury has forced O'Neill to use academy products such as Craig Gardner and Isaiah Osbourne earlier than planned, and the former Celtic boss knows only a January spending spree will relieve the pressure on their young shoulders.

"I want to strengthen the squad if it's at all possible. We need some new players coming in," he said.

"The younger lads are having to do too much in the sense of having to grow up three times more quickly than they would do normally.

"It will eventually stand them in good stead but it's something that we have to address. We need some players to help them.

"I'm looking for players who are capable of lifting us up the league as quickly as possible and who are capable of doing a job for quite some time.

"That might not be quite as easy as we think — but we'll definitely be looking to strengthen."

Villa's poor form has simply made O'Neill's quest for reinforcements that bit more pressing.

"Regardless of the results over the last couple of weeks — obviously if we had a few more points there would be less anxiety about it — we would have done something in January," he said.

"I've known for some time that the squad needs strengthening. I'm not the only Premiership manager in that position.

"We need to improve the team. That's the most important thing."

Defeats against Manchester United, Tottenham and Charlton have left Villa without a single point from the Christmas schedule so far.

They looked on course for victory against Charlton on Saturday, after captain Gareth Barry gave them the lead from the penalty spot.

But they fell away in the second half, Barry shown a red card with half-an-hour to go — the England left-back will miss out against Chelsea — to compound their problems.

"The Charlton result was obviously disappointing, because we'd been playing reasonably well but lost," added O'Neill.

"That's been our story in recent weeks. We have to put it right and are obviously determined to do so, because we're in the results business.

"The whole point is to win, and I more than anyone know I have to put it right. It's all well and good playing nice football, but you have to win matches.