Petrov Update
Stiliyan Petrov faces two weeks on the sidelines after limping out of Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Arsenal.

The Bulgarian international has impressed after recently returning to the starting line-up, but will now miss the games against Portsmouth and Sunderland.

Martin O'Neill said: "We have had the scans back and he has definitely got something there that will require a couple of weeks.

"I can't be absolutely sure of the timespan, but he looks to be certainly missing for a fortnight and that is a real shame for him."

The Villa boss continued: "Stiliyan has been doing very well since he came back into the side. He was close to getting back to his very best form."

Could have been a lot worse really for Stan.

Usually hamstrings take much longer to recover from and we are fortunate it isn't 4 to 6 weeks.

As you say it really is a shame he has gotten injured as this is arguably the best he has played since he has being here.

We have been so fortunate with injuries so far this season, hopefully this doesn't start it all off.

Carew Wait

Martin O'Neill is waiting to hear the extent of John Carew's knee injury.

The star striker limped out of action early in yesterday's 2-1 win at Wigan and the Villa boss is hoping to find out more about the problem in the next 24 hours.

He said: "It's easing up a little but it's difficult to make a judgement on the injury straight away.

"We'll take a look at it in the next 24 hours and then make an assessment based on that."

Martin O'Neill insists Villa's physios will be doing everything they can to try and get Gareth Barry fit for the Blackburn game.

Villa managed to pick an impressive 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield without their influential skipper.

But the Villa boss is desperate to have his captain back to take on Mark Hughes's side on Saturday.

"The captain (Gareth Barry) has been fantastic.

"Gareth was a major, massive loss to us. He's had a wonderful season and has played really great, but sometimes this happens.

"And for us to go there without him speaks volumes for the rest of the squad.

"It's hard to say how long he will be out for. When he first did it, he started to feel better and it wasn't so bad after the first day.

"But since then, it's been slow. We'll see how he is, and listen, he's got to be really sore to miss a game.

"We're doing everything possible to try to get him fit."

Gareth Barry is facing a race to be fit for the Blackburn game on Saturday:

Apparently it was the first game he missed for 4 years! Incredible really in this day and age. Probably one of the reasons why he wouldn't move on to a so called "bigger club" with rotation and all.

Stan Petrov has pulled out of the Bulgaria squad to take on Northern Ireland tonight because of concussion he picked up against Fulham.

It might explain his shite performance although it probably wouldn't have made a difference whether he was concussed or not.

Martin O'Neill said: "Berger - he is back and doing some training. The reserve game was called off a late notice, and he would have been available.

"It was about this time last year where he came into the picture. He played a big part in proceedings.

"Almost from the start of the season, from the day before we played Liverpool, he was definitely in contention for maybe even starting in the team. It has been a very frustrating time for him, obviously."

Patrik Berger is back and in training.

While everyone around him have been flourishing, our saviour from last season has basically had a non-existent season.

Hard to see him being at Villa Park next season.

Davies' Season Over

Curtis Davies will undergo surgery tonight after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Villa's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The in-form defender sustained the injury minutes before the interval as Villa threatened to take all three points off the Barclays Premier League leaders.

He now faces around six months on the sidelines.

Afterwards Martin O'Neill told www.avfc.co.uk: "Curtis has ruptured his Achilles tendon and he's going to have an operation tonight. We're really disappointed for him.

"He's been doing really well and that's a sickener. But he'll be back. He misses the rest of the season and it's really cruel because he's been doing splendidly. It would have been nice to have won the game for him."

Curtis Davies Update


Curtis Davies will return to the Midlands later today after undergoing surgery in the wake of Villa's 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The central defender ruptured his Achilles tendon in the first-half against the Gunners and faces a lengthy lay-off.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "The operation went ahead on Saturday evening and the surgeon said it went very well.

"Obviously there's a little bit of soreness there now and I'll just have to rest it up and let everything settle down."

Reo-Coker was forced out of the 1-1 draw at Arsenal after just 32 minutes with a back injury, while Mellberg has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

But the pair are both in the frame for next Wednesday's Villa Park clash, with Martin O'Neill telling www.avfc.co.uk: "Both of them have trained with no adverse reactions. Olof is now properly fit and Nigel is OK.

"Nigel's back seized up on him. I think it was from a fall in the first-half at Arsenal. I thought he was moving uncomfortably in the last six or seven minutes before I eventually took him off.

"He had some pain killers to see if that would alleviate the pain, but he was in some discomfort and I thought the best thing to do was to take him off.

"At the minute they're both going to be OK. Obviously we've got a couple of days to negotiate in training."

Message Of Support

Wilfred Bouma has wished injured youngster Stephen O'Halloran a speedy recovery.

O'Halloran will fly out to Colorado to see surgeon to the stars Dr Richard Steadman on Wednesday after being struck by a severe knee injury which will rule him out for a lengthy period.

The Republic of Ireland international picked up the injury in the warm up at the start of his loan spell at Leeds United in League One.

Bouma said: "He's a good player. He is still young and he can play as a centre-half as well so like me he can play in both positions.

"Unluckily for him he has a really tough injury right now. Fingers crossed everything will be OK for him again.

"I have been here for a couple of years and from what I've seen of him, he's a good player.

"He's already made his senior debut for Ireland so if everything works out with his knee I see a good future for him.

Gardner winning fitness battle
Versatile youngster in line to face Black Cats

By Chris Burton Last updated: 18th March 2008
Wednesday's Premier League

Craig Gardner is expected to be fit enough to line up for Aston Villa against Sunderland on Saturday.

The England U21 international picked up a back injury in the home draw with Middlesbrough last Wednesday and was forced to sit out the weekend defeat at Portsmouth.

However, with his recovery having gone better than expected he was in line for a returning to training on Tuesday.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is delighted to have Gardner back in the reckoning and also revealed that a number of other injury concerns are making good progress ahead of the Black Cats' visit to Villa Park.

Adjustments

"Craig is OK. With a bit of luck he might train today," he told the club's official website.

"Freddie Bouma got kicked at Portsmouth but will be fine and Gabby Agbonlahor, who has a sore foot, should also train.

"Craig was really sore on Friday. And it would be unlike Craig, as he does not want to miss many games. His back seized up at half-time against Boro.

"You can always adjust anyway, so we will see, but Craig has done a decent job. I have been really pleased with him."

Learning

With Olof Mellberg due to serve a one-match ban on Saturday following his sending off at Fratton Park, Gardner may be asked to revert from his usual role in midfield to fill in at full-back.

"He is obviously a midfield player but there is nothing to prevent him from starting to think about playing that position," O'Neill said.

"He has played there for the U21s and it is a position that going forwards he is pretty comfortable with.

"It is the defending aspect that he would have to learn, just as he would if he was playing defensive midfield anyway.

"He plays a great ball and his second-half performance against Newcastle was really excellent. He has a couple of exceptional shots.

"He is learning all the time and this will be a good experience for him.

"Defensively he can improve; it is about shaping up to tricky, fast wingers. But as a midfielder one of your tasks has to be to go backwards."

Craig Gardner faces two to three weeks on the sidelines after returning injured from England Under-21 duty.

The 21-year-old picked up a thigh strain in the first-half of England's goalless draw with Poland at Molineux on Tuesday night.

He will certainly miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Manchester United and looks set to miss the games against Bolton and Derby.

Olof Mellberg returns from a one-match ban this weekend and looks sure to slot in at right-back.

Injury Update


Craig Gardner could return to training next week but is definitely out of Saturday's trip to already relegated Derby County.

Gardner has been sidelined since sustaining a thigh strain on England Under-21 duty two weeks ago and is desperate to return for the final European push.

Martin O'Neill told www.avfc.co.uk: "He's coming on. I spoke to Roddy Macdonald (club doctor) yesterday and he thinks that if he keeps progressing he might be able to start training halfway through next week.

"That would maybe on the optimistic side, but Craig being Craig, he's desperate to get back. He's asking if he's ready to train every morning."

John Carew has not trained since Saturday's 4-0 win against Bolton, but is expected to shake-off a slight recurrence of a groin injury to face the Rams.

O'Neill added:"He had the problem at Old Trafford, but he was determined to play against Bolton. He was a bit sore when he came off and he didn't train yesterday, but he'll be fine."

Carew went off holding his genital area last week, which I didn't really wanna see so close

Look Who's Back

Curtis Davies has taken a significant step on his long road to recovery after throwing away his crutches and returning to the gym.

The central defender is out until next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last month.

Davies underwent surgery just hours after sustaining the injury and is delighted with the progress he has made since then.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "Things are going well. I'm finally off the crutches. I've still got a horrid boot on for support, but at least I'm walking and getting more of a range of movement into my foot.

"Now I'm stepping up my progress with the bike and the weights. I'm able to do a few more things that I couldn't do when I couldn't stand up without the crutches.

"I knew this was going to be a long haul but I'm making quick progression at the moment. The one problem is that I know it's going to a slight halt down the line.

"Because I've healed so quickly in the early stages, there are going to be stages where I don't feel I'm making much progress.

"It's going to be a long time and I'm not going to forget that. But the main thing is that I'm going well at the moment and I've just got to keep it going."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists he will not rush Curtis Davies' return from his Achilles injury.

O'Neill is not expecting Davies to be back in action for another six months - even though the defender has targeted August for his comeback from a ruptured Achilles.

Davies suffered the setback against Arsenal in early March and last week revealed his hopes of being available shortly after the start of next season.

But O'Neill is aware of the need to adopt a cautious approach with an injury which used to be viewed as career-threatening.

"Yes, Curtis is doing really well. He has a really positive outlook and if anyone can come back quicker than planned, it is Curtis," O'Neill told the Birmingham Mail.
"But for all that, I don't expect to see him back until October or November time.

"It is one of those injuries where, if you start trying to come back too early, the sheath in the Achilles can go.

"However, even if Curtis is a month ahead in his rehabilitation programme our club doctor (Roddy McDonald) has said that we have to be very careful - and we will be."

I'm a little dissapointed with that. I was hoping he would be ready for the start of the season, but obviously the injury is more serious than I had really thought.

So he will be missing August and September next season and won't get back fitness until at least November, so you can almost rule out half the season already for him and I don't think we can continue to go one with just Knight and Laursen, so I'd say O'Neill should be looking to sign a centre-back in the summer.

Davies Making Progress



Curtis Davies has stepped-up his comeback bid and aims to hit the ground running when he reaches his return target in September.

While most of his team mates have been sunning themselves on a beach, the central defender has been working hard at Villa's state-of-the-art Bodymoor Heath training HQ.

And Davies, who ruptured his Achilles tendon at Arsenal in March, has passed another milestone after being given the green-light to start running.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "It's good. I'm coming to a good stage and I've just stepped the rehab up by now being able to run rather than biking everywhere.

"But I can't get too carried away. I feel good and it's nice that I can run but it's still a long way back to recovery.

"I was told six months at the beginning and that would make it dead on September 1. I'm still confident I can reach that - be it playing or just training. I'd like to be out on a football pitch at least by then."

The former West Brom man continued: "Whether it's earlier or later than that, I want to make sure it's healed right. I want the longest career I can get and rushing is not going to do me any good.

"At the moment I'm working on the treadmill, going on the bike, doing my upper body weights, doing my squats. It all ends up being a long morning but it has to be done as part of my rehab.

"You can't just concentrate on the injury - if you do that the rest of you falls apart. So I'm making sure I keep toned up and don't put too much weight on. I want to make sure that when I do come back I'm fighting fit for a place in the team."

Gardner Worry

Craig Gardner has emerged as a potential fitness doubt ahead of Saturday's Intertoto Cup trip to Odense BK.

The England Under-21 international missed tonight's 3-1 friendly defeat at Lincoln with a groin injury sustained in training at Bodymoor Heath this morning.

He will be assessed tomorrow morning and Martin O'Neill told www.avfc.co.uk: "Craig got injured this morning and he's got a bit of a groin problem, so he was struggling a little bit.

"Whether that makes Craig a doubt for Saturday, we'll see how he goes. He might do a bit in training tomorrow and we'll see after that.

"The groin problem's been rumbling on for a little while but we thought during the second-half it would settle down. Hopefully this is not too serious but I couldn't say at the minute."

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill admits Wilfred Bouma's dislocated ankle is a "big blow".

The Dutch defender was stretchered off after only 12 minutes of Villa's Intertoto Cup third-round victory over Odense on Saturday.

Initial fears were Bouma had suffered a horrific broken leg, however O'Neill has confirmed the 30-year-old has dislocated his ankle.

Despite admitting his relief that Bouma - who has had his ankle set in plaster - has not fractured his leg, O'Neill recognises the serious extent of the injury and confesses the left-back will be missed.

"The doctor is back from the hospital and says it's a dislocation," O'Neill told Villa's official website.

"Thankfully the skin isn't broken, which is really good news. They've re-set it and he's now in plaster.

"It's obviously a serious injury to a player who's been playing exceptionally well - he had a great, great season last year and he will be missed.

"The players are going to visit him tonight and we wish him all the very best and the injury is a big blow to us."

Wilfred Bouma was this morning recovering after surgery to re-set the ankle he dislocated in Saturday's 1-0 Intertoto Cup victory against Odense BK.

The Dutch international, who faces four to six months on the sidelines, was taken to see a leading London specialist on Saturday night and went under the knife yesterday

The operation was a success and Bouma had a plate inserted because a natural consequence of dislocating his right ankle is a break at the lower end of the fibula.

Martin O'Neill told www.avfc.co.uk: "The operation went very well and everybody, including Freddie, is very optimistic he will make a rapid recovery.

"Freddie's in good spirits. It was a bad injury but with the level of treatment he's had and the post-operative prognosis we've been given, we're all hoping to see him back, perhaps sooner than everyone expected on Saturday night."

Bouma's team mates have been quick to wish him a speedy recovery and Steve Sidwell summed-up the mood when he said: "Freddie's a strong character and seeing him on the floor in agony was not nice. But he'll be back and I'm sure he'll get the best possible treatment and help."

Curtis Davies today handed Martin O'Neill a huge defensive boost as he returned to action in a 'behind closed doors' friendly against Notts County.

The central defender has been sidelined since rupturing his Achilles tendon at Arsenal in March and initial indications suggested he would be sidelined until October.

But Davies always made clear his determination to beat that target and has been consistently ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation programme.

He completed a 60-minute run-out in this morning's Bodymoor Heath friendly and told www.avfc.co.uk: "I feel great. It was a good game to get 60 minutes in. I felt I could have played the full 90 but I'll take it slowly, one day at a time and see how I come through it.

"I've been looking at the new shirt for ages and just waiting to pull it on, so it was good to be back out there - albeit in a behind closed doors game.

"I felt comfortable and I didn't hold back. Hopefully now I'll get another game soon and I can start to put a bit of pressure on Martin and Zat."

Curtis Keeps Pushing



Curtis Davies is determined to give Martin O'Neill a selection dilemma for next week's UEFA Cup clash with Icelandic outfit FH Hafnarfjardar.

The central defender came through his second run-out in three days as Villa drew 1-1 with Championship outfit Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

And Davies believes the pre-season friendly against a side tipped by many to bounce straight back to the Barclays Premier League was just the test he needed after five months on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles tendon.

He told www.avfc.co.uk: "I needed to see how the injury would react to this sort of test. If we have the sort of season we're aiming for with a run in Europe I need to show I can play, have a day off and then play another game.

"To play 90 minutes is the next goal and hopefully I can do that next week. But two games in three days - two 60-minute run-outs - is not bad really after five months off.

"I didn't need to push the manager to select me. He was just trying to protect me, so he did not put any pressure on me to come back but I am back now and he has seen that I was ready."

The former West Brom man continued: "You can't hold back in challenges as that is when you get injured. I just tried to do the best I can and there are a few bits of my game that need to be ironed out and straightened up but I felt I did all right.

"The start of the season was always my target. As soon as I started training with the lads, I thought that I would get a month's training behind me and then hopefully push on.

"It is not that easy and I have to make sure my foot comes through it but I am hoping to show the gaffer that I am ready to go into a competitive game. All I can do is keep reminding him."

O'Neill is delighted with Davies' rapid recovery but insists the England hopeful will not be rushed back.

He said: "I'm pleasantly surprised to see Curtis back so quickly. I couldn't have seen it when he picked up the injury. He has confounded people by his quick return.

"He's done amazingly well but he's still well short of what I would call serious match practice. He played a little bit of a game against Notts County to get into things.

"Saturday was great for him against a very good set of forwards. His sharpness is obviously something he'll be working on but it was really great to see him back."

Mixed News For MON

Martin O'Neill has revealed mixed injury news ahead of Villa's away day at Tottenham.

Steve Sidwell is a doubt for the game while the Villa boss insists Craig Gardner should be available for the Monday night match. MON also expects Cuellar to play a part in the coming fortnight.

He told AVTV Online: "Craig will be fine. He was feeling very tight last week.

"He mentioned it to the under-21 manager and he sensibly said there was no point risking him.

"He suggested a few days on the treatment table at Bodymoor Heath. That's what happened.

"I am disappointed for Steve because he has worked so hard. He wants to make a big impression at Villa Park.

"He didn't play much first team football at Chelsea last season so he is desperate to make his mark and do well here. I am hoping it's just a set-back.

"I think Carlos is getting close. We will be using all of our squad over the next fortnight. It is an impossibility for players to play all the games.

"That's what you had to do years and years ago. But it's not the case now."

AVFC.CO.UK

MON: Injury Update


Martin O'Neill will assess the fitness of both Luke Young and John Carew in the coming days as he starts his preparations for the trip to Arsenal this weekend.

Young was ruled out with a thigh injury while Carew failed a late fitness test on a hip problem.

O'Neill is hopeful of having both players available for the trip to the Emirates on Saturday but will monitor the pair during the week.

He told AVTV: "Both had injuries which meant they missed the game.

"Luke's doesn't look to be too bad.

"I thought John might be fine for Middlesbrough but he was unable to make it so we'll see how things progress for the pair of them during the rest of the week."

Martin O'Neill hopes to have Stiliyan Petrov and Luke Young back for the tough clash with Arsenal on Saturday but John Carew is a serious doubt.

Petrov and Young will return to training this week ahead of the Gunners game while Carew is seeing a specialist about his back and thigh problem.

MON told AVTV: "Stiliyan and Luke are making decent progress.

"They are going to be training this week with a view to Saturday. I will have a better idea later in the week.

"John is really struggling at the moment. The discomfort seems to have moved from his back to the front thigh area. He is in discomfort. We will see.

"He had scans yesterday that have come up pretty decently. He is going for tests now with the specialist. We will see accordingly."

Cuellar Injury Update


Carlos Cuellar will miss the crunch clash against Hull with a hamstring injury.

The Spanish star sustained the injury in training in the build-up to the Arsenal Boxing Day clash.

Martin O'Neill is hoping to have the former SPL Player of the Year available again in two to three weeks.