Want-away Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen admits Martin Laursen is crucial to the club's prospects.

Like Sorensen, fellow Dane Laursen is off contract in June and his teammate told Villa's website: "Martin's done really well - I sat behind the goal against Tottenham and watched him and just his presence in the air is immense.

"Just one flick can be really dangerous with three or four quick players around, but he won every single ball.

"I've seen him play really well before but his game really suits the Premier League.

"It's very physical and there are a lot of balls in the box and if there was a world championship for heading, he'd be a gold medal contender, that's for sure. That's just his game."