Merson's fitness puts Villa future in doubt

ASTON VILLA skipper Paul Merson's future could be in doubt after he admitted he had returned from the summer break "not fit enough" to play in Sunday's Intertoto Cup match with FC Zurich.

Merson had been earmarked for a key role in Switzerland, especially with Villa missing all of their World Cup stars.

But he told Villa manager Graham Taylor that he was under-prepared for the game despite having been given a fitness programme along with the rest of the squad aimed at having them ready for the early start to the season in Europe.