Holte End hero John Carew today insisted he is in no rush to open talks over a new deal at Villa Park.

The Norway star, Villa’s joint leading scorer going into today’s Manchester City clash, has again found himself linked with a move away from the Midlands, with Fulham and Tottenham rumoured to be showing interest.

But the giant striker, who has one year to go on his existing deal, says he remains happy at Villa and is relaxed over his contract situation. He said: “I’ve still got one year, I’m happy here and I love it. That speaks for itself, I won’t put pressure on anyone for my contract.

“I’ve still got over a year. When the day comes things will happen and it will come naturally.”

Meanwhile, boss Martin O’Neill believes evergreen keeper Brad Friedel has answered the critics who questioned the wisdom of Villa’s decision to pay Blackburn £2m for the American aged 37 two years ago.

He said: “There were a few eyebrows raised at the time when we took him. It’s probably because we paid £2m for him and he was 37.

“In many aspects if David James had been available at that stage nobody would have thought twice about doing it.

“But he has proved his worth and he’s really been terrific.”

And O’Neill confirmed no decision is made yet on whether Friedel will be offered a new contract.

“He has a year left to run,” he added. “Goalkeepers can obviously go on much longer than other people.

“I haven’t really discussed anything with the chairman and the chief executive at the moment other than the fact we’d be sitting down with the younger people with two years to run, the likes of James Milner, and somebody maybe with a year. But everyone will be reviewed.”