Aston Villa's prize asset Gareth Barry will be not sold in the January transfer window insists boss Martin O'Neill. "Cashing in on Gareth has never been a big concern - it certainly wasn't in the summer for the owner of this club," O'Neill told the Daily Star Sunday.

"If it had been we'd have taken a cut price for him then.

"I don't know if our success this season is having any effect on Gareth's future here. We'll take it through to the window and see what develops.

"I couldn't tell you for certain how he feels because I haven't spoken to him about it.

"But there is time enough to think about it after Christmas.

"He is playing very well and has bounced back from the disappointment of what went on in the summer.

"I don't know where we stand politically on players buying out contracts. But if Gareth doesn't sign a new deal he will have one year left to run after this season."