Villa hoping Cuellar will stay

Cuellar, 30, is out of contract this northern summer and will be free to leave after four years at Villa Park.

However McLeish is keen for the defender, who has been used across the back four this season, to stay put.

"I think there have been talks (about a new contract) and they will be ongoing," he said.

"I've said to Carlos it's important he keeps playing as well as he can and then contracts won't be a problem for him.

"If he produces the form he is capable of, we will get more clean sheets so why would you want to let someone like that go."

McLeish is also not ruling out a possible return for striker Robbie Keane, who is due to head back to Los Angeles Galaxy when his loan spell ends this weekend.