Just found this article on BT's website (equivalent of [spits] The Sun [/spits]) from a couple of weeks ago. (Published on the morning of the Liverpool game)
Okore wanted to be loaned out - Villa said noTranslation of article:
Jores Okore was surprised to be passed over for the cup game against Leyton Orient, but even though he's not even been named in the squad this season, and Aston Villa have refused to sell or loan him out, he wants to stay and fight.
Jores Okore was within 13 days of 1 year without game time in a competitive match, but on 3rd September Jess Thorup picked him in the U-21s victory over Russia which meant 90 minutes under his belt. A few days later it was the full team's important qualifier against Armenia, and you would thing that everything was moving in the right direction for the robust centre-back, who had his first season at Aston Villa ruined with a terrible knee injury.
But that's not quite how it is. Even though Aston Villa paid 35M dkk for the 22 year-old Dane, the former FC Nordsjælland player hasn't been part of the squad in Aston Villa's first four matches this season. Three Premier League games and one in the League Cup.
"It was a bit of a surprise that I wasn't selected for the cup game. I'd hoped to be part of the squad and maybe get the chance to play a bit in that game. I felt it was a chance for me, but I think that the manager has slightly different plans in mind. I'll have to take it as it comes. It's also early in the season" says Okore who otherwise feels back on top of things again after his long injury period.
"I didn't get too much playing time in pre-season, because the first 11 needed to play together. Paul Lambert was maybe not quite sure that my knee could tolerate a hard start to the season, as it's "fresh, new knee" and it takes time to get back from a big injury. But I feel that I'm 100% ready myself.
It's more the manager's choice, that I'm not playing at the moment, than it's because of the injury. I don't feel that I've overestimated what's required to get back in the team. Maybe there's just a couple of other things that are necessary to be completely back to your old level, but that can only come with playing time" emphasises Okore.
He'd already declared himself match fit in April of last season, but nothing happened, and when the new season started, Okore approached his manager and told him that match time was the most important thing, regardless of whether that was at Aston Villa or somewhere else.
"I said to the manager, that I'm ready to do anything so that I can be considered for selection again as quickly as possible, but Paul Lambert wants me to stay at the club, and he thought I would soon be playing again, so I just have to trust in what he says. When he won't even loan me out there must be a reason for that." explains Okore.
According to BT's information there were 7 clubs from the 2 top divisions in England that enquired about either loaning or buying Okore, but each time the answer was a crystal clear "No" from the Birmingham club.
In my own head I was open to all possibilities, that could have got me match time again. I just want to play as much as possible, and that's one of the reasons I came to Aston Villa, because here I could see a better chance of playing instead of sitting on the bench or in the stands.
So it means a lot that he won't allow me to be loaned out, and that he must believe in me, but I just want to play as much as possible as soon as possible. Playing loads of games is what enjoy most.
It's too early to say that I'm getting impatient. If I'd played the last three years straight, it would be a different situation, so I feel that I can give it a bit more time, before I start to feel impatient or dissatisfied. That would be like giving up at the first obstacle, but I want to give it a chance so that I can play and show what I can do.
Right now it's OK, and I don't think I can go round and be frustrated. Life is good and it's great to be back playing football again, but I'm fighting to be picked for games. There's lots of fixtures in England, so hopefully I'll get plenty of games to show people why Aston Villa bought me
