Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has ruled out selling Stephen Ireland.

McLeish is facing the prospect of a sell-to-buy policy but claims midfield misfit Ireland will be staying.

Ireland, 25, has not played since the win over Norwich earlier this month and McLeish said: "At the end of the day, in terms of wanting him to go, I don't need anybody to leave this club because we are kind of thin on numbers anyway."