Paul Merson yesterday urged Aston Villa manager John Gregory to show him the same "leeway" as Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson in his battle to stay off alcohol and drugs. The midfielder who has just recovered from a back problem, is furious at the negative reaction from Villa over his weekend trip via Concorde to New York.

"Villa might have paid a lot of money for my services but you can't put a price on life and I know what I went through with my addictions," Merson said yesterday.

"This wasn't me making a flash sort of trip and I am not one of those people who thinks they are bigger than the club. What I did was right for me given my circumstances."

"Bryan Robson was good as gold with such things at Middlesbrough. If I needed a few days off, to get away, then he would understand.

"If Villa want to get the best out of Paul Merson then the same leeway needs to be shown. If the boss (John Gregory) here doesn't understand then there are going to be problems."