Friedel plays down Milner talk

Milner: Wanted by City

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel does not believe the ongoing speculation surrounding James Milner's future will affect the club's pre-season preparations.

Milner has been linked with a move to big-spending Manchester City, who have already tabled one unsuccessful bid of £20million for the ex-Newcastle and Leeds man.

However, the speculation has refused to die down and some feel Milner's uncertain future could unsettle the remainder of Martin O'Neill's squad.

Friedel is O'Neill's most experienced campaigner and he for one insists that any speculation regarding Villa players is not something that plays on his mind.

Speculation

"If someone does go, and someone does come in, you can count on the fact that a good player will have left and a good player will have come in," said Friedel.

"We can't dictate who comes and we can't dictate who goes. I don't pay very much attention at all to speculation. As a player I turn up, I do my work, I go home and then I switch my phone off.

"Each player is going to try and get themselves as fit as possible and in the right physical and mental shape. What happens in the transfer market has nothing to do with us as players."