Milner in 'amicable' Villa talks

James Milner has held amicable talks with Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill after reporting today for pre-season training.

England midfielder Milner was reported last week as being upset with O’Neill for intimating he wanted to leave Villa and join Manchester City.

Milner and his representative, PFA executive Matthew Buck, met O’Neill and club chief executive Paul Faulkner this lunch-time.

Villa issued a statement claiming the talks had been of a friendly nature.

It read: “James Milner trained with the rest of the Villa squad today at Bodymoor Heath.

“He and the manager, along with chief executive Paul Faulkner and the player’s representative, Matthew Buck, had an amicable conversation.

“While James will not play in tomorrow’s game at Walsall, he will fly with the squad to Portugal on Wednesday ahead of the Guadiana Cup in which Villa will compete with Benfica and Feyenoord this weekend.”

Villa have already rejected a £20m bid from City for Milner who joined the midlands club two years ago from Newcastle for £12m.