Jamie Ward has poured cold water on rumours of a feud with boss Kevin Blackwell and declared he is 'happy' with life at Bramall Lane.

Ward's omission from the starting eleven in recent matches has fuelled speculation about problems behind the scenes, but he has revealed a nagging hamstring complaint has been the real reason for his exclusion and subsequent patchy form:

"I am disappointed that I haven't been playing recently but the manager has got a job to do and needs to pick teams to win games.

"I have had a tight hamstring and a few niggles, but hopefully they are behind me now. I don't think I could have started and finished a game, so the manager has probably made the right decision.

"The rumours about a bust-up are a load of rubbish and nobody knows where it has come from. Obviously, somebody is bored at home sitting behind a computer, making up complete rubbish.

"Sometimes people put too much thought into things, my performances haven't been great and the injuries haven't helped that.

"I don't feel I have been right since the Sheffield Wednesday game and the problem is with me rather than anybody else, because the injury is in the back of mind.

"I am very happy here and to be honest I am probably as happy as I ever have been - apart from the day I signed."