Samuel not after new deal

Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel has dismissed claims he is chasing a new contract after revealing he had ended his association with agent John Mac.

Mac had been quoted in reports earlier in the month claiming that Samuel was now entitled to a new deal under a gentleman’s agreement made with Villa when he put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year contract 12 months ago.

But Samuel insisted that the pair no longer worked together and the England Under-21 international is not looking for a new deal at this juncture.

He said: “I am not sure where all this talk about me and contracts has come from but it certainly hasn't come from me. I’m happy at Villa and I’ve recently changed agents so all talk is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment and my focus is on keeping improving my form.”

Villa manager David O’Leary backed up Samuel’s claims and said: “That story was an amazing one because the fellow quoted doesn’t look after Jlloyd Samuel! That’s what Jlloyd came into me and said. I think Jlloyd is quite happy here. It was news to Jlloyd. I think the guy used to be his agent, but not any more.”

Samuel admitted he has been defying a shoulder injury in recent weeks suffered at Burnley in the Carling Cup in order to maintain his ever-present record under O’Leary.

He said: “The shoulder injury I’ve got has probably been bad enough to keep me out but I chose to carry on simply because I want to play all the games I can really. I was worried about the injury but sometimes you have to play through a bit of pain. That is part of the game.”