Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson says Max Cleworth is "very much part of our plans" amid claims Aston Villa have shown an interest in the defender.
The 23-year-old played a significant role in the Red Dragons' rapid rise from the National League to the Championship.
He has started all but one of the club's 26 league games so far this season but was omitted from the matchday squad for his side's dramatic FA Cup third round victory over Nottingham Forest.
But Parkinson stated that both Cleworth and midfielder Matty James were left out against the Premier League side to give them a chance of being fit for Saturday's Championship encounter with Norwich City at the Stok Cae Ras. (15:00 GMT).
When asked about rumoured interest from Premier League Villa in Cleworth, Parkinson responded: "I haven't heard that at all. Maybe it's because he wasn't in the team.
"Max is very much part of our plans. He just had a problem with his groin."
Up until his side's 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on New Year's Day, Cleworth was the only Wrexham player to have played every single league minute for the club this term.
He was an unused substitute against Rovers but went on to play the full match as Wrexham defeated Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park three days later.
"We've been getting him through the games and left him out of Blackburn," added Parkinson.
"We made a decision, whatever the outcome at Derby, he was going to be rested for this [cup] game to give him a chance to be fit for next weekend, and the same as Matty James."
Cleworth captained the first team in their Carabao Cup fourth round contest with Cardiff City on 28 October.
