Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney is away on international duty with Wales, but his thoughts are evidently preoccupied with club matters - and in particular the increasing tension between himself and manager David O'Leary over his contract.

Delaney's contract at Villa Park expires in 14 months' time and both he and his agent Richard Rosser have been to see O'Leary about extending it.

The 28-year-old is anxious to commit his long-term future to Villa, but O'Leary and chairman Doug Ellis are reluctant to meet Delaney's demands as there is a further year's option in the club's favour at the end of his present deal.

"There's been no progress on my contract," said Delaney, who joined Villa from Cardiff City for £250,000 in 1999.

"We have tried to discuss it and I have got next year left with the club having a year option which they are taking to the letter.

"The way I look at it is that I have only got one year left with Aston Villa but the club think of it as two.

"I have given Villa six years and I try to be as loyal as I can and take it seriously, I have said that to the club but they have told me that loyalty has gone out of the game.

"What I have said to them is that loyalty in my career is a big thing for me but it is something the club don't seem to take in a big way.

"Ever since I have been in this game, people have told me to look after No 1 and that is never a truer word for me at the moment."

Delaney, who is in the Welsh squad for their backto-back World Cup qualifiers against Austria, has not played for Villa since January due to a knee injury.

O'Leary says the defender's injury record means the club will not be pushed into offering him a new deal, but Delaney is miffed at suggestions he is injury-prone and appears to be getting increasingly frustrated.

He said: "I am trying to look after myself and take care of my own career, it is just very disappointing that the club won't look at my contract situation now. There seems to be a suggestion that I am always injured, which is very disappointing.

"I have discussed that situation with the gaffer and I was very disappointed and told him so but he told me things that were said had been misconstrued.

"Who do I believe? I don't know. I have only been injured in tackles, bad ones, which everyone has seen on television. Is that what they think is being constantly injured?

"I just want to get back fit and playing and see this season out and the next one and then look after myself and do what is right for me.

"I am not going to worry about it, I have been at Villa six years and enjoyed every minute of it and I have been told by the manager I am his No 1 right-back, and I must take his word for it."

Delaney is hoping to be fit enough to win his 32nd cap for Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday under new manager John Toshack.

And Delaney says that if he does feature then he could be in line for a return to the Villa team. That would be at the expense of Ulises de la Cruz a week on Saturday at Newcastle United.

He added: "I need games so Villa are happy for me to be here. I have spoken to David O'Leary about it and he said if I can get a full week's training and 90 minutes as well in a game that would be of benefit to me."

Meanwhile, fellow Villa defender Martin Laursen will miss Denmark's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine next week.

The centre-back has just been called into Morten Olsen's squad for their double-header against Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

But having only just returned to action after a lengthy absence due to a knee ligament injury, Laursen will not be put through the rigours of two games in four days.

Laursen has featured twice for Villa during the past month and will represent his country against Kazakhstan in Copenhagen on Saturday.

He will, however, miss next week's trip to Kiev, as Olsen is anxious not to overstretch Laursen following his recent comeback.

Olsen said: "Martin is offering himself for the national team but we have to consider that he has been bought by a new club."