Villa skipper Gareth Barry believes he is mentally strong enough to brush aside the mounting speculation about his future as he concentrates on the task in hand at the club.
Even the crucial European 2008 Championships game which England face next week is not going to distract the 26-year-old from the job in hand - trying to help consolidate and improve on Villa's current Premier League position.
And while the Hastings-born player admits Saturday's 2-0 victory over Derby was not one of his side's most competent displays this season, the fact that Villa won their fifth home game of the campaign and maintained their position in the top half of the table was far more important.
Barry said: "If you look at the big picture three points is what we wanted from that game. The second half performance was pretty good although we did come in at half-time slightly disappointed.
"To be fair Derby played well in the first half. They frustrated us, but we were happy at the final whistle to go away with the three points."
Barry himself put in a fine performance against Billy Davies's side and was only narrowly shaded in the man-of- the match stakes by his team-mate, defender Martin Laursen.
The England midfielder said: "I was happier with my own performance in the game. It was is nice to get involved again. The last two games have probably been a bit quiet by the standards I set myself but it was nice to get three points and to be involved a bit more."
As for rumours that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are chasing his signature even though he still has almost three years of his current deal with Villa to run, Barry insists he can cope with the pressure.
He said: "All the speculation over my future does make it tough sometimes. When people all around you are talking about it all the time, it can sometimes affect you.
"But I've always stayed strong mentally in situations like that and I am certainly not thinking about it at all. I have always had a good relationship with the Villa fans and I was happy to come out straight away after some speculation to say that I am still happy to be playing here.
"There is no worry there at all and I'm looking forward to finishing this season well."
