Curtis Davies is happy Aston Villa will not be selling midfielder Gareth Barry.

Barry and manager Martin O'Neill have announced the influential England midfielder will remain at Villa Park until at least the end of the season.

That will take Barry down to the last 12 months of his contract when he will assess his options.

"We never thought it was an issue anyway,'' Davies told the Birmingham Mail.

"We all knew Gareth was staying. If the club weren't going to sell him in the summer then why would they sell him January when we are challenging the top four?

"It would be the worst thing we could ever do.

"It was good for him to come out and say it for the fans. Now they know he is not going to be running off in January.

"Gareth has been one of our top players here for many years so the longer we can keep hold of him the better."