Carlton Cole has stated his intention to remain on loan at Aston Villa from Chelsea for the rest of the season. "As far as I am concerned I am here at Aston Villa for a season," said the 21-year-old striker.
"When you let speculation about 'are you going back in January?' get to you it unsettles your game.
"That's definitely what happened in my case about three or four weeks ago. It was on my mind and affecting my game and I didn't really need it."
He added: "It takes your mind off what you've got to try and do in the games for the club you are playing for at present."
The England Under-21 international is confident that he is improving as a consequence of playing regular first-team football.
"I've got it around my head that I'm going to be here for a year, and this is what I'm here to do. We'll then see what happens at the end of the season," he added.
"There has been no contact with Peter Kenyon or Jose Mourinho or between the two clubs about me going back in January.
 |  My gut feeling is that Carlton Cole will be here at Villa to the end of the season |
"I'm benefiting a great deal for playing week in and week out, and that can only help in terms of improving and developing my game." And Villa manager David O'Leary is confident that the striker will remain at the club for the whole of the current campaign.
"My gut feeling is that Carlton Cole will be here at Villa to the end of the season," he said.
"I hope he is getting back to his best - but he is a kid who is having to play for us on a regular basis.
"Sometimes you'd love to leave him out once in a while and improve him out on the training ground but I'm having to use him week in and week out."
MMIX
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