Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker admits he still bristles at being lumped with the 'Baby Bentley' crowd during last season's struggles at West Ham United.

"For a start, I've never owned a Bentley (he drives a Mercedes) although I'm not sure that was ever directed at me. It was one of the other lads who actually had the Bentley (Anton Ferdinand)," said Reo-Coker.

"A few things were reported last season that weren't actually right. I never had a conversation with Sam Allardyce when I said I'd walk to Newcastle. You can ring Sam and ask him if you don't believe me. And there was never a row with 'a senior player' at West Ham who had a go at me for thinking I was good enough to play for Manchester United.

"I realise controversy sells. It's the society we live in. There's a fascination with players who get into trouble or cheat on their wives.

"But that's not me. I'm a team player and I've always regarded myself in that way. I do my job and then go home and all I'm interested in is playing well for Aston Villa.

"I'm enjoying it here, enjoying working with Martin O'Neill. He has modified my game, made me more disciplined and more defensively minded and made me a better player as a result. All I'm thinking about right now is showing that against Arsenal this weekend."