Angel returns for Villa reserves

Juan Pablo Angel is expected to feature for Aston Villa tomorrow night in a reserve clash with Leeds.

The Colombian forward, who signed a four-year contract this summer, is recovering from knee surgery.

In Angel’s absence, Carlton Cole started up front against Southampton on Saturday and scored in the 2-0 win, as did strike partner Darius Vassell.

“He went to see a specialist on Friday evening, it’s a slow injury that needed a little fluid drained off it which was lingering around,” said manager David O’Leary.

“He had an injection and the surgeon said he can train this afternoon. If he comes through training this afternoon and on Tuesday, there’s a reserve game tomorrow night. We’ll see how long he lasts in the game and how he comes through that will tell me when we can introduce him to the first team.”

Centre-back Martin Laursen made a winning start to his Villa career as the Midlands side kept a clean sheet on the opening day of the Barclays Premiership.

Laursen admitted it had been physically demanding compared to the slower pace of Italy’s Serie A where he played for AC Milan but hopes to form a effective partnership with Olof Mellberg.

“It was nice out there. Olof and I played well together. It’s not difficult when you’re playing with a good player, he was a big help,” the Dane said.

“I have to get used to playing on the left side of central defence and to get used to a different kind of football here in England.

"In the first 30 minutes I didn’t know whether I could keep going for the 90 minutes because it was very tough for me. It’s much harder than in Italy, during and also after the match you are very tired.

“But we want to play at a high tempo – we want to decide how the match is going to be. We started very well (against Southampton) and that was very important.”