 Hendrie's heart lies at Villa Park despite his impressive Stoke form |
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has told Lee Hendrie he will have a part to play at the club when he returns from a two-month loan spell at Stoke. The midfielder, who is out of contract at Villa in the summer, has been at the Potters since September after injury cost him his place in O'Neill's side.
But the 29-year-old hopes to return to Villa, saying: "It's where I belong.
"I'm looking to come back and make an impact. The boss has said 'you're part of my plans' so that gave me a lift."
 | I would rather be putting the claret and blue shirt on every week |
After playing a major role in Stoke's rise up the Championship table, Hendrie refused to rule out the possibility of staying at the Britannia Stadium beyond the end of his current loan deal last month.
However, he has admitted: "Villa is where I've spent a big part of my life. Being away from there makes me want to get back into the team.
606 DEBATE: Does Lee Hendrie have a future at Villa?
"Last season was frustrating when I only played a handful of games and that's not what I want at this stage of my career.
"I would rather be putting the claret and blue shirt on every week but the gaffer told me to go out and get some games. The door is still open to me."
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