By Paul Fletcher

Striker Sutton has been sidelined since December

Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton is optimistic of playing for the club again, according to his agent.

Reports had suggested Sutton, 33, might not play again for Villa after sustaining blurred vision in December.

Agent Tony McGill told BBC Sport: "It is far too premature to say. There is absolutely no timeframe on a return.

"I'm pretty confident he will play again but my main concern was his health. Thankfully he is not going to have a long-term problem with his eye."

Sutton is out of contract with Villa at the end of the season and manager Martin O'Neill recently said it was becoming increasingly difficult to be optimistic over when the striker would be ready to return to action.

We have not had any talks with Villa about Chris's future Chris Sutton's agent Tony McGill

O'Neill said: "Chris saw the specialist but the eye hasn't improved. We want to be optimistic but it's a slow process.

"He hasn't been given the all-clear but Chris will do some non-contact training to get his fitness levels up.

"Undergoing surgery is not something we're contemplating, it's a self-heal thing.

"Chris is far from downbeat. He can go about his daily life but he said if his other eye was like it, he would be in a spot of bother."

McGill said that the player's long-term health was the main issue for Sutton, who sustained the injury when playing against Manchester United on 23 December.

"The first concern was Chris's health," added McGill. "I'm very happy Chris can lead a normal life.

"He has five lovely kids and a nice family - first and foremost is his health and he does not have a permanent problem.

"As regards football, he has blurred vision in one of his eyes and is getting counselling and treatment for that - the very best advice.

"It is not like he can take a tablet and everything will be OK tomorrow. We will just see how it all pans out."

And McGill added that no talks had been held with Villa over a new contract for former Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea, Celtic and Birmingham forward.

"It is a case of one step at a time," said McGill.

"We have not had any talks with Villa about his future. There is certainly no time limit on it."