Nathan Delfouneso will not be leaving Aston Villa for Sunderland according to assistant manager Peter Grant.

The 20-year old winger has been linked with a reunion with ex-Villa boss Martin O'Neill at the Stadium of Light but Grant has indicated that the West Midlands outfit cannot afford to let him go.

"We're very thin on the ground with the squad as it is," Grant told reporters.

"Look at the weekend [against Bolton], we were really down to the bare bones.

"We're looking now to just maintain the squad and it's up to lads like Nathan to make sure they're part of the squad and the team."

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