Bouma blow for Villa
Aston Villa’s defensive injury crisis has worsened with left-back Wilfred Bouma now facing several weeks out of action.
Bouma suffered a hamstring injury during the final minutes of yesterday’s training session at Bodymoor Heath, ahead of the Barclays Premiership clash with Wigan.
Bouma, signed from PSV Eindhoven during the summer, had replaced Jlloyd Samuel in the starting line-up this season.
But Samuel is also sidelined after having an injection this week to cure a long-term shoulder problem and midfielder Gareth Barry will probably have to move back against the Latics tomorrow.
Villa manager David O’Leary is already down to the bare bones in terms of his centre-backs with Martin Laursen out for the remainder of the season and Gary Cahill unavailable for up to five months.
In addition, right-back Mark Delaney has still to taste the senior action this season because of knee trouble, although he is slowly edging his way back to fitness.
O’Leary said: “Bouma will be out for quite a while, at least two to three weeks. He did his hamstring right at the end of training on Thursday.
“With Samuel injured and Cahill out for so long, we are very vulnerable at left-back and centre-back.
“We just cannot afford any more injuries in the middle of our defence – a position I was keen to strengthen last summer.”
