Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill backs Heskey
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has revealed he has cleared up any confusion over Emile Heskey's future.
Heskey's future of Villa was the subject of widespread speculation earlier this week after he was quoted as saying he might have to leave in search of regular first-team football to safeguard his spot in the England squad.
The 31-year-old has claimed he was misquoted in the media and pledged his immediate future to Villa.
O'Neill has spoken with Heskey about the rumours and he has backed the former Liverpool and Leicester man insisting he remains a big part of his plans at Villa Park.
"Interestingly, I have a bit of sympathy for Emile. We have spoken this morning and I understand how these things come out," O'Neill told the club's official website.
"I have been in this business for a long, long time and Emile is not the sort of person to be causing ructions at a football club. I have known him for a long, long time.
"He's very quiet and if he's got anything to say to me, he will knock on my door, no problems with that. So I think a lot of things got blown out of proportion.
"However, having said that, I can understand the situation where people are going to ask him questions with the World Cup next year, knowing he is hopefully first choice for England but not playing regularly for Villa. People will ask him these questions, I understand that.
"Simply put, Emile is a key part of our squad. He's just not starting the games this minute.
"Players will get their chances to play here. There's a long time to Christmas, Easter and certainly to the start of the World Cup.
A lot can happen in that time.
"But getting back to the original point, Emile is very important to us, very important. At this minute, we want to gather a squad together but as you gather a squad together, the almost
inevitable problems creep in - like trying to keep everyone happy who doesn't start."
