Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was sent home from training on Friday for disciplinary reasons, boss Martin O'Neill has revealed.

Reports have indicated O'Neill and Reo-Coker had a heated disagreement in training.

When Reo-Coker arrived for training on Friday morning, he was told to stay away until Monday.

O'Neill said: "There was a confrontation between Nigel and myself. It usually happens between players really.

"There were no fisticuffs. There was no wrestling to the ground as reported in one newspaper. That was a figment of the onlookers' imagination.

"There was enough for me to treat the incident seriously enough. Nigel will not play against Portsmouth and come Monday it will be forgotten about.

"I make the rules. I am the manager and custodian of the football club so my rules apply. Players have to get used to my rules. It's as simple as that."