O'Neill denies Larsson is target

Larsson scored 36 goals in 98 games for Sweden

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has rubbished reports linking him with a move for former Celtic and Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson.

Larsson, 37, is a free agent after his contract with Helsingborgs ended, but O'Neill told BBC WM he will not be coming to Villa Park.

"There's not an ounce of truth in it. I had a great time with him at Celtic and he is a world-class striker," he said.

"He's a great goalscorer, but there's no truth in it."

The former Swedish international spent seven years with Celtic and scored 173 goals in 221 league appearances before moving to Barcelona in May 2004.

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A short, but successful, loan spell with Manchester United followed at the beginning of 2007 before a return to Sweden and O'Neill says he never had any doubts his former striker would make an impact wherever he went.

"He goes to Barcelona and wins a European Cup and just when you thought he could have given it all up he goes to Manchester United and does wonderfully well.

"He's a wonderful, wonderful footballer," O'Neill added.