Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is determined to keep skipper Gareth Barry.

"We have to sit down and have a look. I don't think it is the time now,'' he said. "Whatever has come out you have to respond to it. I haven't had a chance to digest what was said. I have had too many things to concern myself with.

"The best thing to do would be to sit down with Gareth at the end of the season.

"That's the only sensible thing to do. It is part of the job - we will see where we go.

"He has got two years left to run, and a testimonial to come."

O'Neill says he will not use that testimonial next summer as a bargaining tool.

"Not for one minute would I be wanting to hold a testimonial over someone like a Sword of Damocles, but all I will say is that we will do our utmost to try to keep him at the football club.

"Whether we can, I don't know.

"You wouldn't say after that performance on Sunday that he sees this speculation as a distraction.

"But whatever else was said, Gareth did say he would wait until the season ended, then we will sit down and we will see," he added.