Double blow for City as Bojinov out for another six months
Bojinov spent a year out of action after picking up a knee ligament injury in only his third game for the club against Manchester United last August.
Now he will be out of action until the new year after snapping his Achilles during the warm-up before yesterday’s Premier League game at Aston Villa.
It began what turned out to be another miserable day for City, who were hammered 4-2 with Gabriel Agbonlahor netting a hat-trick inside eight minutes.
City boss Mark Hughes said: “It looks like Valeri has snapped his Achilles and will be out for six months. It is a huge blow for the lad.
“We are all desperately disappointed for him. This has come on top of being out for a year already so it is a huge blow for him. It was also not an ideal way for us to start this game.”
Villa needed only two minutes of the second period to break the deadlock through John Carew — last season’s top marksman with 13 goals.
Barry found Ashley Young in space on the left flank and the winger sent over the kind of pinpoint cross which Carew thrives on as he sent a powerful header past Hart from six yards out.
A mix-up between Luke Young and Shorey presented City with an equaliser after 63 minutes.
There appeared to be little danger but the two fullbacks hesitated and let in Michael Johnson who was eventually brought down by Luke Young in the box. Referee Phil Dowd immediately pointed to the penalty spot and Elano sent Friedel the wrong way.
But Villa needed only five minutes to regain the lead through Agbonlahor.
An Ashley Young corner was turned back across goal by Curtis Davies to Agbonlahor who beat Hart with a right-foot volley and within five minutes Agbonlahor had struck again to double Villa’s lead.
Ashley Young picked out the overlapping Barry and his cross was headed home by the England Under-21 player.
Then in the 76th minute Agbonlahor completed his first senior hat-trick when he raced onto a Barry through-ball and clipped the ball past Hart.
Corluka scored an 89th- minute consolation goal for City but they were well beaten by the final whistle.
Hughes said: “In fairness, I was pleased with the first-half performance. We had to combat the physical presence, the pace and effectiveness of set plays that Villa have.
Villa manager Martin O’Neill insisted Agbonlahor’s “time will come with England” after he was overlooked by Fabio Capello for the friendly with the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Ashley Young was also left out by the Italian and he responded by setting up two goals as Villa ended a six-game streak at home in which they had failed to defeat City.
O’Neill said: “You could see the confidence go flooding into Gabby once he scored that first goal. The other two goals were magnificent and I was delighted for him.
“In terms of England, his time will come. It is a long season and he knows what is ahead. This is a great start.
“I was a bit surprised Ashley did not get in the England squad but his time will come as well. I have no doubts whatsoever that they will make it through.”
O’Neill was happy with his side’s overall performance, adding: “We had the better of the first half but had a couple of chances we did not take.
“I felt at half time we just needed more of the same but we had to be careful because in possession City were very good.
“They were never out of the game and when they got back to 1-1 a game can go in either direction but the way Gabby took his goals was superb.”
ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
MAN CITY: Hart, Corluka, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido, Etuhu, Gelson (Ireland 81), Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Evans (Sturridge 81).
Att: 39,955
Referee: Phil Dowd.
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