Martin O'Neill insists Aston Villa centre-forward John Carew is not for sale.

Villa manager O'Neill said: "Do I think he's got a future here? Yes. Do I think he's happy here? Yes.

"The crowd like him a lot and he's responding to that. He's fitter now than he has been for quite some time and I'm delighted with him."

He added: "On the type of form he showed at Manchester United John can be anything he wants to be.

"Whether Villa is a spiritual home, I'm not asking. But if you want to be known as a really feared centre-forward you have to be consistently excellent."

Carew was fined before Christmas after he was spotted in a club on the morning of a UEFA Cup game.

But O'Neill insisted: "Players are allowed to go out and enjoy themselves. But wandering up and down the street at two in the morning on a day when you may be playing is not allowed - and of course John would be pretty conspicuous."