Last Updated: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:23
David Wheater is ignoring links to Aston Villa and focusing on helping Middlesbrough back into the Premier League next season.
The 22-year-old England Under-21 international had been linked with a move to Villa Park this summer in an £8million switch following Boro's relegation to the Championship last term.
However, Wheater has reiterated his desire to stay with his hometown club and do all he can to ensure their absence from the top flight is a brief one.
Wheater, who has recovered from knee surgery in May and is expected to be fit for the televised Championship opener against Sheffield United on August 7, told Boro's official website: "Nobody likes being relegated, but you have to get on with it. We just have to concentrate on trying to go straight back up again.
"If we keep as many players as we can, I think we have a great chance of doing it. We know that it's a tough league, but we have players who can handle it."