Aston Villa deny Heskey exit talk

Aston Villa have dismissed reports they have held talks with Leicester regarding a possible transfer of striker Emile Heskey to the Walkers Stadium. The former England player made his initial reputation with the Foxes before signing for Liverpool a decade ago.

Now there has been speculation that a return to his first club is a possibility, but Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald said: "I worked with Emile as a young boy at Leicester and I've got a lot of time for him. I've not had any talks with Leicester." He added: "I live quite close to Leicester so I know quite a few of the people there and there has been nothing at all.

"I think Emile Heskey is a very, very good footballer. You don't play as often as he did for England if you are not a good player." MacDonald hinted that Heskey still has an important role to play at Villa. He said: "In my opinion, he has been a top player for a long time. You don't play for Liverpool and win trophies if you are not a good player. "Aston Villa need as many good players as they can and then to develop some other ones as well." Now you can buy Aston Villa Tickets for Premier League 2010-2011. Further more you can also buy Arsenal Tickets, Chelsea Tickets, Bolton Wanderers Tickets, Everton Tickets and Premiership football tickets for all the other teams of the League. So Premiership tickets are at a distance of one click from the fans. Ticket4football.com provides the fans with the facility to buy Premiership football tickets at cheaper price. Now Premiership tickets and football tickets for other popular teams/matches are available online.

O'Neill defends Heskey decision

Martin O'Neill insists he put no pressure on Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey to end his England career.

But the Villa boss believes Heskey, 32, will reap the benefits of having the international breaks to rest up following his decision to quit England after a disappointing World Cup campaign in South Africa.

"No-one at the football club forced Emile to retire from international football," said O'Neill.

"That was a decision he made all on his own. He feels now that international football is something he can do without.

"There are weeks when you've got the international breaks that you can rest. In that sense he will see that there is a benefit.

"But international football shouldn't really have any effect on your club form - apart from not getting a break."

Heskey will face a battle for his place at Villa despite O'Neill not recruiting any new strikers so far this summer.

England Under-19 player Nathan Delfouneso is expected to make a bigger challenge for a spot this season.

O'Neill said: "I don't think there will be too many players at the club who can complain about not getting chances to play.

"When you get them, you've got to grasp them. We've got Emile, John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Nathan Delfouneso and young Andreas Weimann who I think has got a chance." Now you can buy Aston Villa Tickets for Premier League 2010-2011. Ticket4football.com provides the Aston Villa fans with the facility to buy Premiership football tickets at cheaper price. Further more you can also buy Arsenal Tickets, Blackpool Tickets, Chelsea Tickets, Everton Tickets and Premiership football tickets for all the other teams of the League. Now Premiership tickets and football tickets for other popular teams/matches are at a distance of one click from the fans.