O'Neill made an inquiry about the Chelsea winger during the January transfer window and has been linked with the former Manchester City player ever since.

But the Irishman insisted he would not be pursuing Wright-Phillips ahead of tonight's clash with Toronto, part of their Canadian and North American tour.

O'Neill said: "I will not not go into any other specifics about who I want or don't want to sign but rumours that we are after Shaun Wright-Phillips are not true.

"I don't even know know where that has come from. To be perfectly honest, I don't think it will happen at all. It seems to be coming up all the time but the truth is I have not even enquired about him.

"We did so in January, as people know, but were led to believe by Chelsea that he wanted to fight for his place so I have done absolutely nothing about it."

O'Neill has signed the West Ham duo Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood this summer but is looking for other new captures ahead of the Premier League opener with Liverpool on August 11.

He said: "We want to strengthen because we don't want to be in a position like last November and December when we were desperate for the January transfer window to arrive.

"We had injuries and suspensions, we were left with the smallest squad in the country and the results went accordingly.

"I don't want to be in that position again. I am hoping we will have more strength in depth."