David Ginola yesterday pledged his future to Aston Villa, and dismissed claims that he wants to quit the club.

Ginola is fuming at reports that he wants to leave because of his lack of first team opportunities under manager John Gregory since his £3m summer move from Tottenham.

He has been restricted to four starts for Villa after suffering a series of injuries, including a back problem and a torn thigh muscle.

Gregory has brought him back into the starting line-up for today's match with former club Newcastle after regaining full fitness.

Ginola said: ''There is absolutely no truth in the stories whatsoever. I'm very happy at Aston Villa and I'm looking forward to playing in tomorrow's game with Newcastle.

''I haven't spoken to anyone about my position at the club because there is nothing to discuss.

''All I've done is concentrate on getting fully fit and now people are trying to put words in my mouth.

''The headlines in the papers make it look as if I've said these things. Nothing could be further from the truth.

''Whenever a famous player isn't in a team, people make up stories and create situations that don't really exist.

''In this case it has been pushed to the limit and I am very angry about it.

''For me, everything about the club is tremendous and I don't want to leave Aston Villa. All I want is to see is Aston Villa being successful with me a part of it.''

Ginola will play up front against Newcastle alongside Dion Dublin, with Paul Merson operating in the 'hole' - the blueprint Gregory had hoped to implement from the start of the season.

The Villa chief has praised the hunger and commitment shown by Ginola in training now he has put his frustrating injury problems behind him.

Villa skipper Gareth Southgate yesterday insisted he will remain on the transfer list after claiming that ''nothing had changed'' at the club in the past six months to persuade him to make a U-turn.

Talks between the club and England goalkeeper David James over a new three-and-a-half year contract have broken down, only 24 hours after Villa manager John Gregory claimed he could ''foresee no problems''.

Southgate asked to go on the list in June before heading off for England's Euro 2000 campaign because he felt he could not realise his ambitions in the game with Villa.

Villa rejected a bid from Chelsea for the England defender