Martin O’Neill admits Aston Villa have sorely missed the “big heart” of injured skipper Martin Laursen after seeing their hopes of securing Champions League football virtually disappear.

Martin O’Neill will leave it entirely in the hands of crocked Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen to decide on his future.

MARTIN O’NEILL has admitted Aston Villa “won’t be able to compete financially” with the big four clubs in the Barclays Premier League.

Luke Young has admitted that Aston Villa have greatly missed the presence of injured skipper Martin Laursen at both ends of the pitch.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will hold talks on Monday with crocked skipper Martin Laursen but will not make any any predictions about the centre-back’s future.

Wilfred Bouma is set to undergo further ankle surgery which will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen is set to miss the remainder of the season with the knee injury which has sidelined him for the past three months.

Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen remains optimistic the club can still qualify for next season’s Champions League despite their recent poor run of form.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen has suffered a setback in his bid to return to action after his knee problem.

Denmark defender Martin Laursen has announced his retirement from international football.

Gareth Barry will regain the captaincy of Aston Villa in the absence of Martin Laursen after the Danish defender was ruled out for two months.

Aston Villa striker John Carew has returned to training for the first time following a long-term back problem but is unlikely to play any part at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light tomorrow.

GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR insists he is happy to remain Aston Villa’s lone ranger as they continue their charge towards a Champions League place.

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and defender Luke Young could return for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League derby against West Brom.

Aston Villa’s £10m central defender Curtis Davies has told the Barclays Premier League big guns: “We are here to stay.”

Yesterday’s stoppage time hero Zat Knight will retain his place in the Aston Villa side for Tuesday’s trip to Hull after skipper Martin Laursen was ruled out for three to four weeks.

Aston Villa defender Zat Knight admits his last-ditch equaliser against Arsenal was the perfect antidote to months of personal frustration – but insists he has no right to complain about a lack of first-team chances with the side flying so high.

Aston Villa have doubts over defenders Martin Laursen and Carlos Cuellar for the St Stephen's clash against Arsenal.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Lauren admits the prospect of a February trip to Russia is a daunting one after the club were drawn against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup.

Aston Villa will welcome back their leading players for the Premier League clash at West Ham after resting them for the midweek UEFA Cup game in Hamburg.

WHEN John Carew limped out of action at the start of November, Aston Villa’s hopes of mounting a sustained challenge to the Big Four’s monopoly appeared to disappear with him.

Aston Villa 4 Bolton 2

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is optimistic winger James Milner will recover from flu to be available for tomorrow’s home encounter with Bolton

Aston Villa are hoping winger Ashley Young shakes off a calf injury in time to face Everton in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash at Goodison Park.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan and striker Marlon Harewood are poised to start for Aston Villa as Martin O’Neill rings the changes for tomorrow’s UEFA Cup clash with MSK Zilina at Villa Park.

THE harsh demands of gatecrashing the Premier League’s top four are beginning to bite at Aston Villa.

Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar could be available for the Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham at Villa Park after groin and thigh injuries.

Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar has been ruled out of tomorrow evening’s clash with Manchester United at Villa Park.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recalled his senior players for the Premier League clash against Aston Villa and also had Emmanuel Adebayor on the bench following his ankle injury.

Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov and right-back Luke Young could return from injuries for the Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

GARETH SOUTHGATE has endured some troubled days since plunging into the world of management at the tender age of 36, but this is the kind of result which makes the hurt worthwhile.

Aston Villa have been boosted by the return to fitness of winger James Milner for Sunday’s Villa Park clash against Middlesbrough.

Aston Villa have doubts over midfielder Stiliyan Petrov and winger James Milner for Sunday’s home clash against Middlesbrough.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill is set to make changes for tomorrow’s UEFA Cup meeting with Slavia Prague in the Czech capital.

Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa have a doubt over midfielder Stiliyan Petrov for Monday night’s trip to Newcastle United.

GARETH BARRY hit the target for the third successive match as Aston Villa came from behind to sustain their push for a top four place in the Barclays Premier League against Blackburn Rovers last night.

Aston Villa 3 Blackburn 2

Aston Villa hope former captain Gareth Barry will be fit to face Blackburn in Wednesday’s home Barclays Premier League clash.

MARTIN O’NEILL may have stumbled across a new motivational technique for John Carew.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is a serious doubt ahead of his side’s Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.

Aston Villa 2 Ajax 1

Aston Villa 2 Ajax 1