Villa boss David O’Leary stated earlier this week that it was imperative Villa keep McCann, who arrived with Thomas Sorensen from Sunderland in a £4million package deal two years ago.

“Gavin is the kind of unsung hero that is sometimes only appreciated by the players,” O’Leary had said.

“You sometimes don’t realise what he contributes until he is missing from the team. Last season he had big problems with his knee but tried to carry on with virtually one leg until it got too bad for him to continue.”

A one-year option is also built into the midfielder’s new contract, and Villa will now look to tie up Sorensen on new terms.

McCann, who won one England cap in the early stages of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s tenure, has long since fallen out of favour at international level but remains a key man for Villa when fit.

He made just 20 league appearances last season, with knee trouble keeping him sidelined for the second half of the campaign.

McCann has returned to action during Villa’s pre-season trip to Sweden and is a certainty to be in the starting line-up for the new season if he confirms his return to full fitness.