Recent reports have linked Colombia striker Angel with Argentinian giants River Plate, Northern Ireland defender Hughes with Sunderland and former England Under-21 full-back Samuel with Bolton.

But manager O'Neill, who took his squad on a five-day Spanish training camp, with the side having a three-week break between fixtures, has dismissed the rumours.

He said: "Nobody from Bolton has contacted me about Jlloyd Samuel, although I am not saying that they should.

"I didn't know about River Plate or about Sunderland and Hughes."

However, O'Neill has revealed he has received enquiries from Coca-Cola Championship clubs about the possibility of taking some of his other players on loan.

He said: "What I do know is that other Championship clubs have enquired about some of our players, not including those three, to take them on loan."

And the Villa boss is refusing to rule out accepting some of these offers.

"I will look at each case individually - I will not say yes or no - to see if it is worthwhile," he said.

"I do not want to turn around and say that I am not loaning anybody out, and then the next day I let somebody out.

"I will treat each case on its' merits. I am just a wee bit concerned because, only four or five weeks ago, we could hardly put a team together.

"The fact is we have a number of players who are now fit and may need some football. But I am not rushing to be sending players out on loan at this minute.

"Two weeks ago, when they would have only missed one game at Reading, it would have been a genuine thought.

"But I haven't switched my mind off to the idea."

Villa return to action on Saturday with a Barclays Premiership trip to Fulham, where O'Neill will be keeping his fingers crossed his side avoid the fate that befell Bolton when they returned from a recent training camp in Tenerife.

The sunshine break appeared to backfire on Wanderers, who were thrashed 4-1 by 10-man Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

O'Neill is hoping Villa's vacation proves more fruitful, saying: "It was good for players to get together and, at this time of year, it was excellent.

"But the proof will be in the pudding - it is whether you win the games or not.

"Bolton Wanderers took a break recently and were 3-0 down in 20 minutes at Tottenham, so who is to say? But I genuinely think it was good.

"The overall picture is that it was worthwhile and I will be saying that regardless of the next couple of results.

"If there is a wee bit of sun around, everyone feels a wee bit better - simple as that."