Wilfred Bouma Boost?

Martin O’Neill has explained that although Wilfred Bouma ‘tweaked his hamstring’ it is hoped that he will be fit for the seasons kick off on Saturday against Arsenal.

O’Neill told the official site:

‘He tweaked his hamstring a bit and we sent him for a precautionary scan. It doesn’t seem too bad, but we’ll do more in depth tests back in England. I don’t think it’s anything too serious.’

Meanwhile the Dutch international defender says there can be no repeat of last seasons dire campaign.

He told the official site: ‘I’m looking forward to my second season here – the same as everybody. I came last year and we had an awful season. Everybody wants to do better and be higher in the table. We don’t want another season like last year. It would not be acceptable to have another season like that. The new manager has given everyone a lift – the players and the supporters. He was linked with England and with a lot of top clubs, so here at Aston Villa, we have to be glad that he took the job.’

‘We saw the response from the fans on TV, it was unbelievable. Now it’s important for us to give all the people at Villa Park what they deserve. He will give his best, the same as us, to do much better.’

He also says he is now much fitter than he was last season adding: ‘I think this is the first pre-season for years where I’ve trained every day and played a lot of matches. In previous years I had European Championships or I was injured, so hopefully now I can push on. I’ll do my best.’