O'Neill waiting on Delaney fitness

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will allow defender Mark Delaney the chance to prove his fitness this summer before deciding on his future.

Delaney has been dogged by knee problems in recent seasons and his current contract expires next month.

But the Welsh international will continue to undergo rehabilitation work at the club’s new training complex at Bodymoor Heath for the next couple of months after having surgery at the start of the year.

O’Neill told PA Sport: “If Mark’s current programme goes according to plan, he would be hoping to be joining in with us towards the end of July – and I am happy for that to be the case.

“Mark’s contract ends in June but I will look at this and I think it is only right we should be looking after him until he is fit.

“Then he will be in a better position to assess what is happening with him hopefully by the end of July to mid-August.

“Mark has been out of the game a fairly lengthy time but, in terms of keeping at the club until he gets fit, it is our duty to do that and then we will see what develops.”

Delaney has been at Villa for nearly eight years but has become increasingly prone to injury in recent seasons.

O’Neill will make no comment on speculation linking him with a transfer raid in his former Bank of Scotland Premier League stomping ground, with Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith and Heart goalkeeper Craig Gordon reported targets.

The former Celtic boss watched the pair in action on Sunday during the SPL clash between the clubs at Rugby Park.

O’Neill is known to be keen to bring a new front player and Naismith’s penalty winner against Hearts was his 20th goal of the campaign.

There has been increasing speculation that O’Neill is also looking to bring in a new ’keeper with current number one Thomas Sorensen having only one year left of his current contract.