Aston Villa: John Carew has future here - Villa boss

Dec 9 2009 By Mat Kendrick

MARTIN O’Neill insists John Carew remains an integral part of his Villa plans but the manager is refusing to make any promises about the fans’ favourite’s future.

O’Neill dismissed stories earlier this week claiming the Norwegian striker’s representatives were in talks about a possible move to Turkish club Fenerbahce.

And Carew’s agent Per A Flod insists his player will not be leaving Villa in January – but revealed the Holte End hero’s future would be discussed next summer.

“I’ve no idea about that story at all, absolutely not,” said O’Neill.

“But it’s that time of year again coming up. There’s nothing in it. I haven’t spoken to John or his agent about it.

“He’s played in Turkey before and I’m sure that won’t be the only link to one of our players this season.

“But there’s nothing in it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know anything at all about it. Nor have I even bothered to chase it up.”

O’Neill is pleased with his forward options with Carew challenging Emile Heskey to partner Gabby Agbonlahor in attack and Nathan Delfouneso available as back-up.

Asked if Carew, who was signed from Lyon in a swap deal involving Milan Baros in January 2007, was still part of his plans, O’Neill replied: “Very much so. We’re at a really important stage and John is very important.

“Emile Heskey’s come back and shown some really excellent form. We’ve got Gabby, who so far has kept things going up there and adding a few goals too has helped.

“I have that and I have the up-and-coming Nathan Delfouneso, who I think will be a proper player in time. Who knows what happens in January? I don’t want to be sitting here promising absolutely everything and then finding out that I’m unable to keep these particular promises about anything that happens in a January window. I just don’t know.

“But I would be pretty loathe to be losing players.

“John has been an integral part of the side, he’s done very well and I want a bit of genuine competition for places, which I think I have at the moment, maybe not everywhere, but in a number of areas.”

Flod insists the 30-year-old striker and Villa will decide at the end of the season whether to prolong his stay or seek a move.

“Something will happen during the summer of 2010, either an extension or a transfer,” he said.

“John might also play out his contract, but I don’t think Villa are interested in that.

“It’s no news that Fenerbahce want John, that has been known for three years now.”

Meanwhile, Villa’s next generation of potential stars start their FA Youth Cup campaign against Rochdale at Villa Park tonight.

“It’s that time of the year again when I get pretty excited about youth team football,” added O’Neill. “It’s the youth cup, which I love.

“The season before last we had a fantastic run and we also had a fantastic group of players at that time.

“Ciaran Clark, Barry Bannan, Nathan Delfouneso and all the boys – a really great group of players.

“It would be nice to emulate that, but it’s exciting for the boys to be playing at Villa Park.”

Admission to the third-round tie, which kicks off at 7pm, is free.