Thursday Apr 26 2007 13:09
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has told midfielder Gavin McCann that he still has a future with the club, despite being dropped from the first team in recent weeks.
The 29-year-old schemer was reported to be heading for a summer exit, but O'Neill says that that is not the case.
He commented: "I have not warned Gavin McCann at all about his future. That is nothing to do with it. It is all about the idea of playing for places next season.
"I want all the boys currently out of the side to fight their way into the side and, if things work out alright, then they will stay in there.
"Gavin has one year left on his contract and it is entirely up to him what he chooses to do.
"But, if it were up to me, I would want him to be a part of this football club for the future. I want competition for places.
"I can't imagine that Gavin is happy at the moment. He is not that type of person anyway. Gavin would want to play every week.
"What I would say about Gavin is that for the first three or four months of this season, he was terrific. It has been a long season for everyone and he has been on the go for all of it."
Have your say on this article