Villa has been the epicentre of transfer speculation but boss Gerard Houllier is focused on matters on the pitch.

Aston Villa have a tough run of games over the festive period, kicking off with a home game against Spurs on Boxing Day before trips to Manchester City and Chelsea.

It is an unsettling time for Premier League managers as virtually every player in the squad seems to be linked with a move away from the club in the forthcoming January transfer window.

Steve Sidwell is the only player definitely leaving Aston Villa as he puts the finishing touches to his impending transfer to West Ham.

And despite all the talk of various comings and goings Houllier is dedicating his time to handling the immediate task of winning football matches.

“I am fully focused on the games, starting with Tottenham,” said Houllier.

“I am focused on the team and on the games. Maybe we can talk about that (transfers) later on. Until after the FA Cup game, I don’t think I will get involved.

“The most important thing is to pick up points. We have 20, which is not enough. You could say easily, for those who have followed our games, that we could have maybe five or six points more which would put us in seventh or eighth position.

“Unfortunately we dropped points but now we have to be focused on the 21 games to play. The games will come thick and fast.”

With Britain in the grip of another cold snap, the rest of Europe’s top leagues are enjoying a short winter break that enables players to spend Christmas Day with their families.

Aston Villa’s squad have been given the daytime of December 25 off but they will train in the evening before spending the night in hotel.

And Houllier is a big fan of games over the festive period, which are as much part of the festive period to football fans as turkey and mince pies.

“It’s a great tradition in England. Players can sometimes be frustrated not to be with their family but we’re playing at home so we’re lucky,” said the Villa boss.

“We won’t have training in the morning. We will leave the players to have the full day with their families and then they will meet up in the evening to train.

“We can practically enjoy the whole day, whereas with Tottenham their players will have to travel here.

“I love the atmosphere of Boxing Day football. A lot of families come with their children. That’s preparing fans for the future.”

Villa are definitely without Luke Young (knee) for the match so Eric Lichaj deputises at right-back.

They are boosted by the return of striker Gabby Agbonlahor who has recovered from a chest infection.

Ashley Young will face a late fitness test on a knee problem but otherwise Houllier is unlikely to tinker with the side that defeated Albion.

Another player who could be in contention for a place on the bench is Fabian Delph, who Houllier believes will be like a new signing when he returns to action.

He said: “The good news is that Delph seems to be taking part in practically all our sessions, which is a good sign and a good omen.

“To be honest, I didn’t know him as much as I have discovered. I’d heard of him but I had not seen him play because he got injured very early. It looks as if he won’t be far off and he is like a new signing.”

Houllier also admitted he is happy to stick with Ashley Young as his stand-in captain if he is fit enough to face Spurs. Young was handed the skipper’s armband in Villa’s 2-1 win over Albion and Houllier said he was pleased with player’s attitude and the way he led the side.

“Ashley was a good captain. I can tell you why, because he got an injury against West Brom and he was sort of wobbling,” explained Houllier.

“He had a medial ligament problem and for about four or five minutes I thought I was going to replace him.

“You could see that I had somebody warming up. I asked him and he said: ‘No, no, I’m staying’. So that’s a good captain. Because if he leaves the field he has to go straight to the hospital, but he was as good as gold.

“Also, he could have left when we were only 1-0 up. He could have thought ‘Well, I’ve done my job’, but he stayed on.

“He’s one of the players, if not the one, who’s run more miles in every game. In training I can tell you he puts himself around.

“Ashley can do that on the field is because he plays like that all the time. He’s a good trainer and he’s also a good match-winner.”

“I told him, I like the captain when he says ‘No, it’s all right’ because he was limping, but he stayed on.

“I told him the day before he would have the captaincy. Maybe in the game sometimes they think a more experienced player should get it.

“Stiliyan lost the captaincy at Sunderland because he was injured. He had to be stretchered off. Again Stiliyan stayed in the game, and I think it was just before half-time he went off.”