Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen is ready to pledge his future to the club and the rest of his career to English football.

The Denmark international is in the last year of his current contract at Villa and manager Martin O'Neill is ready to offer him an extension to stay for at least another two or three years.

The former AC Milan star has been in blistering form this season after two years dogged by a series of debilitating knee injuries and has won man of the match accolades week in, week out this season.

Laursen, who has started every Barclays Premier League match for Villa so far this campaign, said: "I was happy to read that the manager would like me to stay here because I want to stay.

"I feel good but nothing definite has happened yet. "I don't think I will make a four-year contract but I hope to make a two year or three deal if they want me here.

"I had a quick chat with the manager just before the season ended . He said he was very happy with me and I told him that I am happy here as well.

"I like to play in England. It suits my game very much so, yes, we can talk about that."

Laursen, who in his first three seasons managed just 25 starts, is now enjoying a flourishing international career and enjoying Premier League action.

He underwent surgery with specialist knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in the USA and believes his persistent knee problems are now behind him.

He said: "I ended up last season playing two games a week sometimes and I ended up playing 90 minutes on Saturday and last Wednesday and Sunday. I feel good physically now and the knee feels good.

"Personally that is what I had hoped for this season, that I could be physically fit so that I could be available for every game. Then if the gaffer wanted me to play then it was up to him."

Laursen added: "I don't think we have to worry that much about the injury coming up again. I think it was a bad injury and you can get that but that is it.

"I think that everyone is very happy now with my progress - the officials, the doctor, myself. Yes, I don't have the perfect knee but I am fit now and I am playing so I don't think it will have to be written into a contract."

Meanwhile, O'Neill is urging his side not only to be entertainers but to toughen up to grind out results.

He knows there is room for improvement after last week's defeat at Manchester City.

He said: "I want us to be known as a team that can entertain and excite but I also want people to know that we are hard to beat and that we never give up.

"That's what gets you into Europe - the idea that you are not beaten until the last kick of the game. That's the thing about the this team this year. We feel that we are capable, hence the disappointment with the defeat at Manchester City.

"By our own decent standards, which we didn't live up to on Sunday, we still had enough possession and enough half-chances to have got something out of the game.

"But the game is gone now and we can't do anything about it, But there is an opportunity on Sunday at home to Everton to try and get back to winning ways."