Luke Moore has shot down speculation that he is on his way out of Villa Park.
Rumours have linked last season’s joint top league scorer with Premiership rivals Fulham, to whom he could have moved last summer.
Moore failed to play any of Villa’s last six games of the season amid talk of a bust-up with manager David O’Leary. But the 20-year-old insists he will stay at Villa and fight for his place with Milan Baros, Juan Pablo Angel, Kevin Phillips and Gabriel Agbonlahor.
“I’m not buying a house in Fulham – and I’m not moving there as far as I know,” said Moore.
“I’m planning to be at Villa and that’s where I’ll be until I’m told otherwise.
“I expect to be at Villa for the start of the season.”
After scoring his first senior hat-trick at Middlesbrough, Moore’s form dipped and by the end of the season he had fallen behind Agbonlahor.
The England under-21 international has seen his older brother Stefan jettisoned by O’Leary and there were fears that he could go the same way.
He added: “Everyone gets frustrated, but you have to understand that’s that’s what happens in football, especially at a big club.
“I’ve just got to stay positive – sometimes it’s hard but that’s what I’ve got to do.
“Things can change very quickly so you just have to stay focused. It’s hard at times, but that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Despite the alleged spat with O’Leary, a parting of the ways is highly unlikely.
Moore is one of the brightest talents to have emerged through the youth ranks at Villa and a sale – however lucrative – would be seen as a major backward step.