Fabian Delph: 'I wouldn't have signed new Villa contract if I expected relegation'

Fabian Delph has said that he is very confident Aston Villa can avoid relegation this season, and "wouldn't have signed" a new contract with the club if there had been a possibility of the team going down.

England international Delph signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract at Villa Park in January, since when the club have fallen into the relegation zone and sacked manager Paul Lambert.

Delph told BBC Sport: "When I signed my contract there wasn't a thought in my mind that relegation was going to happen. If that was the case, you'd have argued that I wouldn't have signed the contract.

"When I signed we were trying to get into the top four but I've been in relegation battles since I've been a regular starter here, which isn't something I am proud of.

"Each year, we've crossed the line and got through and I don't see this year being any different. We're confident in our own abilities and I'm 100% certain we will get over the line."

Delph, who joined Villa from Leeds United in 2009, had been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before signing his new contract.