O'Neill bides time on Carson April 28 2008
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill will make no decision on whether he wants to keep on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson permanently until the end of the season.
Carson has been with Villa all season and he has overcome a sticky spell following his confidence-sapping error for England against Croatia to help them push for a UEFA Cup spot.
The 22-year-old wants to sort out his future and does not want another spell on loan after previously being with Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton on a temporary basis.
But, whatever his own feelings, O'Neill knows that ultimately the decision lies with the Reds and insists there has been no contact between the two clubs over any possible deal for Carson.
He said: "We have Scott until the end of the season and when we talked about it in the first place, there was no decision going to be made one way or another until the end of the season.
"Now, of course, if someone does very well then there is talk about 'can you hurry this on?' or if someone is not doing so cleverly then the talk is 'well, what are you doing about it?'
"That is a natural question for people to ask me - but an unnatural one to answer.
"I will wait until the end of the season. Liverpool are heavily involved now in competitions so we will wait and then all parties will sit down.
"Liverpool have not come on the phone asking 'what are you doing?' and I have not gone on to them and said 'what are you thinking?' We are prepared to leave it.
"With all the hullabaloo surrounding Liverpool at the moment, I would have been surprised if they were sitting down to have a discussion (about Carson). At the end of the season we will decide - all of us."
O'Neill added: "I haven't really said anything to Scott either way. I speak to his agent pretty regularly about things. He always asks how Scott is doing.
"Scott will be given that viewpoint - but I am sure he would like to hear it from a manager!"