Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he is pushing for new contract talks with Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen.

He told the Birmingham Mail: "At the moment Martin Laursen and Olof Mellberg are contracted to the club until the end of the season. But situations change very quickly in football - somebody not in the picture can very quickly find themselves back in the picture.

"They can get an opportunity and get themselves back into the reckoning and then you think to yourself: 'Why were they ever out of the reckoning in the first place?'

"But I might have a problem with some selections and sometimes it is difficult to leave people out of the team, even though I've always said it's not a real problem to me.

"You can understand the sides who have maybe got another 15 players in the stand - and quality ones too, such as at Liverpool and Chelsea.

"Look at Arsenal - the boy Gilberto doesn't get into the team, it's amazing."