More Woes For Villa Right-Back

Wales international right-back Mark Delaney is set to visit the same American knee specialist that Martin Laursen used last year to help try to resolve the injury that has ruined yet another season for the luckless defender.

Delaney, who is out of contract at the end of the season, will visit Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill said: ‘Mark is very frustrated. He wants to go and see Dr Steadman which we are hoping to arrange to see what Mark’s situation is. He is not comfortable with the knee but it is far too early to start make long lasting assessments. It’s a shame. Mark has not kicked a ball this season but that is through no fault of his own. He has made every attempt to try and get fit but as the seasons are going past he has been playing less and less.’

Adding, ‘He has a great attitude and he wants to get fit. If he says there is a problem, I take his word for it. I just hope he gets some good news from seeing Dr Steadman. Mark is out of contract in the summer but I think just getting fit would be more in Mark’s mind than worrying too much about contracts.’