Craig Gardner Return Delayed

Villa’s young midfielder Craig Gardner has suffered a set back in his bid to recover from an injury he picked up in the FA Cup game against Manchester United. The official site are now calling it a hamstring injury although I’m sure it was a groin strain?

Martin O’Neill said: ‘Craig has gone for a scan. It has got to the stage where it isn’t making much more progress. It is a wee bit slower than we anticipated.’

Adding: ‘Craig is a terrific lad – he’s got a fantastic appetite to want to play and a great attitude. He’s a decent player; he dominates a lot of reserve games. Many people may have thought – including myself – that he may have got a chance earlier. Injuries and circumstances worked against him, but he was ready when the chance came and was doing well before this setback.’