Davis not on my for-sale list - O'Leary

David O’Leary has hailed the contribution of Aston Villa midfielder Steven Davis and insisted he would not be part of the ‘sell-to-buy’ policy he has to adopt this summer.

O’Leary has chosen Davis as his player of the year in a season of massive under-achievement by the club.

Academy product Davis has been a model of consistency in his first full campaign at senior level and become a key member of the Northern Ireland side.

The 21-year-old is already attracting the attention of leading clubs and was linked with Manchester United during the January transfer window.

O’Leary has been told by Villa chairman Doug Ellis he has to generate his own funds to ring in new blood by selling off members of the current squad.

But Davis is regarded as the ewel in the crown and the sort of hungry player O’Leary wants to build the team around.

O’Leary said: “There is no way Davis would be a player we want to sell.

“There are loads you wouldn’t want to do that with and within that bunch you might have to bite the bullet and let one go to raise money. But he is not one of those.

“For that to happen it would have to be one taken out of my hands, an absolutely obscene offer money-wise.

“Steven has been the most consistent player this season and he would win my vote for player of the year.

“But I don’t buy into him being linked with other clubs.”

The one regret for O’Leary is that he has been unable to give Davis a break because of the lack of central midfield players at his disposal since Eirik Bakke returned to Leeds from a loan spell in January.

O’Leary said: “It is Steven’s first full season and there are times where I would have liked to rest him but it has just not been possible.

“I had to tell him and Gavin McCann that they had to keep going until the end of the season and he has stood up well, although I think he is now ready for a break.”

Villa wind up the campaign at home to Sunderland on Sunday and O’Leary is disappointed after finishing in the top 10 the previous two seasons.

He said: “I have been in this game a long time and my standards are very high. I don’t like where we are. It leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

“I will be looking to bring in players who share my ambitions in having Aston Villa where we were in my first two seasons here, in the top half of the Premiership.”

Villa chairman Doug Ellis has promised to reveal his plans for the future in his programme notes for Sunday’s game and O’Leary said: “I am looking forward to reading those myself.

“I have no idea what they will be about but I hope it is something really positive for the club. The fans and I want that.”

Leading scorer Milan Baros will be available to face the Wearsiders after recovering from the hamstring injury suffered against his former club Liverpool last weekend.