Nigel Reo-Coker insists Villa have unfinished business from the 2007-08 season before they can focus on Barclays Premier League and European ambitions for the campaign ahead.

Villa travel to Danish side Odense BK in the Intertoto Cup on Saturday, with Reo-Coker urging: "Let's earn the right to play in the UEFA Cup."

Martin O'Neill's men will start as favourites against Odense and Reo-Coker is determined not to slip up.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "The chance to play in Europe is fantastic. It's what every youngster dreams of. You want to play at the highest levels and play in as many competitions as possible.

"You've got the UEFA Cup and the only thing ahead of that is the Champions League. So it would be fantastic but we've got to make sure we earn the right to be there.

"We can't really count our chickens yet. We've got to get through the qualifying round and make sure we focus on that first before we start looking forward to Europe.

"Something you quickly learn in football is that you can't underestimate anyone, regardless of what level they're at. You can't underestimate anyone.

"So we're just building up our fitness now and we're looking forward to the Intertoto game. We're not taking anything for granted and we know we have to earn the right to get ourselves into the UEFA Cup.

"We're very excited looking ahead to the new season. Look at the players we've got, we've got the same nucleus with one or two exceptions.

"We played some very exciting football last season and all we want to do is just continue in the same vein. We've got a very young and fresh squad and we know what we have to do. We know it's a very big season for us and we're really looking forward to it."

Reo-Coker welcomed Steve Sidwell to Villa last week and is delighted a deal has been agreed for American keeper Brad Guzan.

Now the former England Under-21 skipper is looking forward to further arrivals.

But he concluded: "We can't get involved in that side of things. That's down to the manager and he knows what he's doing.

"We're just concentrating on the pre-season, making sure we get ourselves fit individually and collectively as a team. The gaffer will make the additions when he feels that's necessary."