Tonight's Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa game will be the first time Robbie Savage has crossed swords with Martin O'Neill since their days together at Leicester City.

Under O'Neill, the Foxes enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history, never finishing outside of the Premier League's top 10 during his five years in charge, and winning the League Cup twice, in 1997 and 2000.

Now in charge at Villa, O'Neill is looking to work similar magic, and Savage can see certain similarities between him and his present gaffer, Mark Hughes.

"Martin's a great manager and I can't speak highly enough of him.

"He's unbelievable - as is our manager," said the Rovers midfielder, who is hoping for a recall after being left on the bench for Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham.

"They are two totally different characters. They are both hugely respected and the thing they have got is you want to go on the pitch and win for them.

"If you come off the pitch and Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes say you have played well, you go home and feel the best you've ever felt.

"If you come off the pitch and they've told you you haven't done well, then you feel dreadful.

"At Leicester, at half-time you'd sit in the dressing room and Martin would walk in.

"He'd look round for a minute and not say a word.

"Then he'd put his hand by his mouth and you'd be thinking, 'please don't say me', and then suddenly he'd go 'Sav'!

"The gaffer (Mark Hughes) has got a more laid back approach.

"Obviously, he will lose it now and again. But they're at totally different ends of the scale.

"I honestly think they're the best two around.

"I've been fortunate to work with Sir Alex Ferguson, Dario Gradi, Steve Bruce, Peter Taylor, Mark Hughes and Martin O'Neill and these two are the best two at the minute."