Alessandro Del Piero is in no rush to finalise his Sydney FC future as he pours all his energy into helping resurrect the team's dismal A-League season.
Del Piero's stay in the harbour city beyond this term is still unclear, with the Sky Blues yet to decide whether they will take up the option of a second year for the 38-year-old striker.
The former Italy international has been a shining light in what has been a poor campaign for the two-time champions, who are bottom of the standings with just three wins from 12 games.
Del Piero is loving life in Sydney, but wants to put contract talks aside to focus on hauling the team up the table.
"I have spent a really good time here," the 2006 World Cup winner said.
"We have time to discuss that but at the moment the best thing for me, the club, the players and everyone is to concentrate on the games.
"We have to worry about this next period because it's very difficult for us and we have to put all our energy, mental and physical, into it.
"I'm not worried about other things. I'm really enjoying it... but now have to win a couple more games for more enjoyment."
Asked when he hoped to have his future resolved, Del Piero said: "Everything is clear for me and the club.
"We can do it earlier than what we think, but the contract is not a stress for me.
"I'm really happy to be here. I want to put all my knowledge and heart into this at the moment and not to talk about (a new deal)."
The Sky Blues are six points adrift of the finals spots ahead of a tough three-game stretch which starts against league leaders Central Coast at Allianz Stadium on Thursday.
Tough away trips against Adelaide and Perth all follow within 10 days in a period that is likely to define the club's season.
Benteke struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League when he arrived from Genk for ?7million this August, but the Belgian has been on a hot streak of form recently to take his season tally to eight goals.
Vertonghen knows Benteke well from their time together with a Belgium side littered with individual brilliance, and he knows he will have to be at his best to keep the towering striker quiet.
"It doesn't surprise me that he has done well," Vertonghen said.
"He now feels the confidence of the team, the crowd and the manager.
"You could see that in the last two games for the national team (when Benteke scored in wins over Serbia and Scotland). He was very good then and I think that Aston Villa made the right choice to sign him.
"He is very good in the air and he can score. He will be a very tough player to play against."
Vertonghen may not be pitted in to direct combat against his compatriot, however, as he could once again be deployed at left-back, where he has played since Benoit Assou-Ekotto suffered a knee injury in September.
With Assou-Ekotto nearing full fitness, Vertonghen hopes to move back to his favoured position of centre-half.
When asked whether he found it frustrating playing at full-back, the 25-year-old said: "Yes, and the manager knows.
"I prefer centre-back but I want to help the team.
"It would be good to have Benoit back but not only for that reason as he is one of the best left-backs in the league."
Villas-Boas, whose team dropped to sixth in the Premier League on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Stoke, will also be without Clint Dempsey for this evening's game as he has a groin strain.
Villa's 8-0 defeat at Chelsea led to renewed fear among the Villa Park faithful that their team could be destined for relegation this term.
Villa sit just three points above the relegation zone, but Spurs right-back Kyle Walker, who spent half a season on loan at Villa Park two seasons ago, thinks they will survive.
"I think they will be all right," the 22-year-old told Spurs TV Online.
"I think they have proved that they can dig in at home.
"I watched them against Manchester United (when Villa surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2).
"The result didn't go their way but they are young, energetic and hungry to win games."
The 17-year-old's impressive displays in the Championship has seen him called up to the England Under-21s squad and linked to a move away from Pride Park.
Arsenal, Liverpool and even Barcelona have been mentioned as potential suitors and Jol has now confirmed Hughes is being monitored by Fulham.
"Believe me, there is probably 10 clubs in the Premier League having a look at him," the Dutchman said.
"He is one of these wonderful talents so he is always on lists. If you have a good scouting system, he will always be on the list but we will see."
Fulham have been left short in central midfield following the summer departures of Mousa Dembele, Danny Murphy and Dickson Etuhu.
With Mahamadou Diarra soon to head off to the African Nations Cup with Mali, there have also been suggestions Fulham could move for Inter Milan's McDonald Mariga.
"I could easily say I don't know him but he is the brother of the Celtic boy [Victor Wanyama]" Jol said.
"He is an interesting player but I have to be honest and say we're not looking at him. We did a couple of years ago."
Meanwhile, is is understood Fulham are closing in on Standard Liege goalkeeper Sinan Bolat.
The Turkey international has been training with the Cottagers for the past month as he completes his recovery from long-term injury.
Bolat's potential arrival raises questions over the future of 40-year-old Mark Schwarzer and deputy David Stockdale.
Schwarzer's current deal runs out at the end of the season, while the latter recently spent a spell on loan at Championship high-fliers Hull.
Odemwingie has had a fractious relationship with Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi stretching back to last February when he was substituted in a friendly against Rwanda.
His exclusion from the initial 32-man party for the African Nations Cup is the final straw for Albion's top scorer in the past two seasons.
Odemwingie said: "It is clear now that my days with the Super Eagles are over. I expected it (to be left out of the ANC squad) because we have had a few issues before.
"I played a very good 10 years from 2002 to 2012. I don't want to be with a coach who doesn't want me.
"I still love my country and care about the football but I already wasn't feeling the way I would have liked to feel.
"The coach wants to present it in a way that has nothing to do with football, that I confronted him and said he couldn't substitute me early (against Rwanda).
"But we just had a nice conversation and I said to him: 'Coach, if you don't see me in your team, don't try to find stories, just tell me. It's very easy'.
"I just had to wait for his decision, because no matter what happened, if he called me today I would go and play.
"But I had to wait for his decision, so people know it wasn't my decision not to play again."
Odemwingie added: "Last month I spoke with him (Keshi) because I didn't play in a few games with the national team and he said my body language didn't show that I wanted to play for the team.
"But body language for the Nigerian coach is that you have to be calling him all the time and greeting him, but for me football is an official thing.
"You invite a player and he comes. I don't have to be like his son, calling you every day and saying: 'How are you, sir?'
"I'm not that type of person. They take it as arrogance, but my mentality is different."
Odemwingie will now channel his energies into helping Albion sustain their top-six push in the Premier League and he is also expecting his first son next month.
He said: "Albion are on a mission. We have just started so nice this season and maybe we can experience a very great season.
"If I stay here for the extra four games (in January), it could mean a lot.
"If I'm in good form and score goals and bring points to the team, I'll be very happy at the end of the season.
"It is also a plus I can continue to be here for what could be a very special season for us.
"Even if it doesn't end up being so, we are going to give it our best shot and also my son will be born around January 11 which is something to look forward to."
The Villa manager is looking for a positive response in tonight's home clash with Tottenham after his side were hammered 8-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday - the heaviest in the club's 138-year history.
It brought an end to Villa's six-game unbeaten run in all competitions which had lifted them out of the Premier League relegation zone and into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.
Lambert said: "You analyse Sunday but you can't over-analyse it otherwise it will drag you right down.
"You get to a point where you have to let it go and we have another game coming up against Tottenham on Boxing Day for us to rectify that.
"How do we get over it? We just go out and try to win the next game. There's no magic formula. You just go out and try to win.
"The players know themselves that they let everybody down against Chelsea.
"It's how we react; that's a good marker of a good team, how we react to it."
Midfielder Ashley Westwood believes Villa are "building something special," although he concedes there will be setbacks to overcome for the young squad of players assembled by Lambert.
He said: "We are young lads, we are going to have setbacks, we are going to have disappointing performances.
"But if the fans can stick by us, I think we're building something special here.
"We are young lads, we are still learning the game, we are not going to be at the top of our game week in and week out."
