Magpie Milner set for Villa move

Newcastle United's James Milner (L) vies for the ball with Lillestrom's Robert Koren during the UEFA Intertoto Cup in July 2006. Aston Villa are set to sign Milner on a long-term deal.

Aston Villa are set to sign Newcastle winger James Milner on a long-term deal.

Villa are expected to land the England under-21 international for four million pounds (7.6 million dollars), taking manager Martin O'Neill's spending spree to 12 million (22.8 million dollars) in 24 hours.

Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov joined the club for eight million (15.2 million dollars) on Wednesday.

Milner was a popular figure with Villa players and supporters during his season-long loan last year when he was one of the few success stories as they flirted with relegation for lengthy periods.

He always claimed he was happy to stay at Villa on a permanent basis before returning to the Magpies in the summer.

Glenn Roeder assured Milner he was part of his plans and the player made all the right noises in saying he was willing to fight for his place at St James' Park.

But Villa's bid for the former Leeds player is understood to be one they have not been able to refuse.

Newcastle had been contemplating using Milner in part exchange for a possible swoop for Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka but that deal is not happening.

Milner was regarded as one of this country's most exciting prospects during his formative years at Leeds before moving to Newcastle in the summer of 2004.

But Sir Bobby Robson was sacked as manager after a month of the 2004-05 campaign and his successor Graeme Souness once said: "We won't win anything with a team of James Milners."

Milner was reunited with his former Leeds manager David O'Leary at Villa last season as part of the deal which saw Nolberto Solano head back to Newcastle.

He admitted to benefiting from playing regular first-team football at Villa before being laid low with a severe virus in the latter stages of the campaign.