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Jores Okore demoted to Aston Villa U21s after refusing place on bench

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Jores Okore will play for the Aston Villa's Under-21s after refusing to be a substitute against Bournemouth

Eric Black has revealed Aston Villa defender Jores Okore refused to act as one of his substitutes against Bournemouth earlier this month.

Okore was due to be part of interim boss Black's squad for the April 9 match, which Bournemouth won 2-1, and was told to train with the U21s.

The Denmark defender, who has only featured once since the start of March, continued with his stance after that game and was omitted completely from the squad that went down 1-0 at Manchester United last weekend to confirm relegation from the Premier League.

Black said: "Jores trained pretty well ahead of the Bournemouth game. I spoke to him at the start of the week and he responded well.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06:   Jores Okore of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Norwich City
Image: Jores Okore's Aston Villa future is uncertain

"Then when I announced he wasn't in the starting XI and wanted to work with them on the Friday he came to me afterwards and told me he didn't want to be on the bench.

"He didn't feel right to be on the bench - I found that strange. At that point he wasn't involved in the group - I didn't want him in the group if he didn't want to be involved on the bench.

Jonathan Walters of Stoke City and Jores Okore of Aston Villa compete for the ball
Image: Okore has struggled to hold down a regular place in Villa's side

"I then gave him the weekend to think about it and reflect. I spoke to him again on the Monday to see if he had changed his views on that and he just confirmed that he didn't want to play again and didn't want to be involved again, which I must admit I find very surprising.

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"At that point I couldn't dream of bringing him into the group because I only want people there who want to play."

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