Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill wanted to play Emile Heskey at centre-half earlier this season, it has been revealed.

The Times says Heskey's future at Aston Villa was thrown into further doubt last night after it emerged that the forward refused to play at centre half during the club's injury crisis in August.

Although Villa denied that the incident had any connection with Heskey dropping down Martin O'Neill's pecking order, the news comes after the England striker suggested that he may have to leave the club in January.

O'Neill asked Heskey to play in defence for the home match with Fulham in August to bail the team out at a time of defensive crisis, and the player replied that he was not comfortable with the idea, having never played a full game there.

Sources at Villa reacted furiously last night to the idea that this had led to Heskey being frozen out by O'Neill, who helped to launch the forward's career when the pair were together at Leicester City a decade ago.