Premiership: Villa look to Germany for Alpay cure

Aston Villa have turned to the doctor who looks after the German national team in a bid to finally cure the long-term ankle injury of central defender Alpay.

The Turkish international flew out yesterday to Germany to obtain treatment from the world renowned Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt who is also doctor to Manchester United’s Champions League opponents Bayern Munich.

Mueller-Wohlfahrt was also turned to for help by top golfer Jose-Maria Olazabal when his career was threatened by a crippling back complaint in the mid-1990s.

The Spanish star went onto make a complete recovery and Mueller-Wohlfahrt has built up a reputation for his diagnosis of injuries in a wide range of sports.

Now Villa are hoping that he can do the trick for Alpay, who has so far been sidelined for three-and-a-half months after sustaining the injury when falling awkwardly in the home Premiership match with Leicester.

Alpay has not recovered as anticipated and is keen to cure the problem as quickly as possible with the World Cup only just over two and a half months away.