Last Updated: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:02
Craig Gardner looks set to miss Villa's clash with Wigan on Saturday after suffering a setback in his return from a thigh injury.
The versatile Gardner has been sidelined for a month after suffering a muscle injury on England Under-21 duty, just before Villa's clash at Manchester United.
It had been hoped that the 21-year-old would be fit to face Birmingham in the recent derby, but he missed that game and also sat out the 2-2 draw at Everton.
Martin O'Neill has now revealed that Gardner has suffered a setback and looks doubtful for the remaining two league matches, against Wigan and West Ham.
The Villa boss said: "Craig was due back a week ago and in actual fact joined up with us for the game against Birmingham, but he was still feeling his thigh therefore he came back out of the firing line.
"Obviously he was trying to rush back to be in contention for the Birmingham game. That was very commendable and very laudable. But at the end of the day he maybe just tried to get back a wee bit too quickly.
"So it is best that we take our time now to get him absolutely right. But he is making good progress again."