Downing told to hit goal trail
England international Downing was on target twice in Villa's 5-2 romp against Burnley at Villa Park on Sunday. He had only scored once in his previous 19 games before that brace and had gone 16 matches without a goal.
Now he has ended that drought, O'Neill hopes he can finish the season with a flourish – starting against Palace.
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Hide AdO'Neill said: "His confidence has been boosted with his two goals against Burnley. I think he has been doing very well for us without getting the occasional goal. That is the part of his game which he feels he can improve upon and I think his two goals against Burnley will have lifted him enormously."