By Paul Brown

Emile Heskey has reiterated his desire to fight for his place at Villa.

The powerful forward insisted he was heavily misquoted after national newspapers featured stories claiming he was ready to quit the club.

He said: "After a game, you are faced with about 10 million questions. Most of my replies were one word answers and then I read headlines saying I'm going to quit Villa and things like that. It confused me a little.

"You try and go over the questions you were asked and piece together things you said, trying to work out when I said I was going to quit Villa.

"It's a strange one. It happens all the time and you just hope it doesn't happen to you. You just have to deal with it - it's an everyday occurrence for some players. I have spoken to players before about it - it usually happens to foreign players.

"I haven't been worried about it but I have been thinking when did I say this and that.

"I am here to fight for my place like any other player. Everyone is in the same ballpark - they want to play and they are ready to fight.

"I'm not running away from things. You have to embrace the challenge. These are the hurdles you have to get over. I've said that before."

Heskey has already spoken to Martin O'Neill to set the record straight and revealed the manager was supportive.

"I didn't say I want to quit Villa or anything like that. The manager knows what I'm like. I have spoken to him and explained the quotes. I think the manager knew anyway that certain things weren't said.

"I just wanted to clear everything up. The headline said more than the whole piece actually. Some people only see the headline. It's not nice to be painted as something I'm not but as I said, I've seen it happen to so many people before me. I've seen people get through it - and so can I.

"I am here, I am a Villa player and in spite of what the headlines say, I'm not going to quit."

Villa v Chelsea

Saturday October 17 - 12.45pm
Barclays Premier League
Villa Park
Category AA game

Prices

£20 to £43 (adults)
£15 to £43 (under-16s)
£20 to £43 (young adults and students)
£17 to £43 (over-65s)

Sale Dates

On sale to supporters who have a booking history - maximum six seats per booking