Hitzlsperger agent 'getting carried away'

Aston Villa manager David O'Leary believes Thomas Hitzlsperger's agent is pricing the player out of a new contract.

Villa have offered the Germany international, whose current deal expires in the summer, a new two and a half year contract after holding initial talks.

But O'Leary believes his representative is "getting carried away" with what he is demanding for a player who has yet to establish himself as a first-team regular at Villa Park.

O'Leary said: "It's up to Thomas. It's Thomas's choice if he wants to leave Aston Villa. This club will be bigger than Tom.

"We want him to stay but the club has been good to Tom, has made him a good offer but I think that no way is Tom in the league of what the agent was wanting.

"They are getting carried away. Tom is a young player who hopefully will go on to be a really good player. He has got the potential. Only time will tell whether he will be."

Hitzlsperger was recalled to the starting line-up for Saturday's home defeat to Everton when Villa produced their worst performance in two seasons under O'Leary.

But the 22-year-old insists his own performances are not being affected by the uncertainty surrounding his future.

"With the contract situation, it's not easy at the moment but fortunately it doesn't affect my game although it will be good to improve on Saturday's performance," Hitzlsperger said.

"There have been so many things said about the contract in recent weeks so I'm just trying to stick to the game and try to improve myself and improve as a team."

Mark Delaney has recovered from a knee injury and could make his comeback after a five-week absence in tonight's reserve clash with Everton at Bescot Stadium.

Fellow defender Martin Laursen is also pencilled in for a fifth reserve outing since recovering from knee ligament damage.