Coventry City striker Noel Whelan has quashed stories linking him with a move to Aston Villa.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a £7 million transfer to John Gregory’s side - but today said he was happy to see out his contract at Highfield Road.

The link is bound to cause more bad blood between the clubs – Coventry last week reported Villa for an alleged illegal approach for Dutch midfielder George Boateng.

Whelan is very close to Coventry boss Gordon Strachan who has helped him through a series of off-field problems, and that looks set to keep him at the struggling club.

Whelan said:

"The club and my agent have not heard anything. I heard about the stories on Saturday and told the manager before our game with Blackburn. I have 18 months left on my contract and I am a Coventry City player for that time unless the club decide otherwise.

"I am playing the best football of my career at the moment and I am perfectly happy.

"Villa are a local derby team and there is no love lost between us and this will not help after last week."

Meanwhile Gary McAllister has not ruled himself out of the trip to champions Arsenal at the weekend.