Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce insists he will not pick Ross McCormack until the striker's "attitude towards training improves" after he was left out of the 2-2 draw with Preston on Saturday.
McCormack, a £12 million signing from Fulham last summer, has been linked with a loan move back to Craven Cottage but Bruce denies all knowledge of such a deal.
The Villa boss, though, has questioned the 30-year-old's commitment to the cause and revealed he has failed to turn up for training on several occasions. Most recently, the player claimed that the electronic gates at his house had broken.