Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

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O'Neill plays down Heskey talk

02 Jan 2010 - 11:14:43

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Martin O'Neill insists he is unconcerned by continuing reports linking Emile Heskey with a move away from Aston Villa.

The 31-year-old striker has been linked with a potential return to former club Liverpool in the transfer window just 12 months after arriving at Villa Park from Wigan Athletic.

Heskey's failure to secure a regular starting place at the Midlands club has led to suggestions that he could lose his place in England's World Cup squad.

But despite no let-up in the speculation, O'Neill has played down talk of another transfer for the well-travelled frontman.

He said: "It isn't of any concern to me at all. It is just the nature of the business.

"Things have been bubbling up because January is the only opportunity that clubs can bring in players or move players out during the season.

"It doesn't bother me one jot. I cannot go on confirming or denying stories. It just happens.

"We will be linked with a lot of players in January and a lot of clubs will be linked with some of our players.

"My own particular view is that in a general sense agents want to satisfy their players and you are going to get a lot of that in the January window."