Bouma close to Villa return

Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury and should be fit for the Barclays Premiership clash with Fulham on March 3.

Bouma suffered the setback while on international duty for Holland a fortnight ago and missed Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Reading the following weekend.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill decided not to risk Bouma in that game given that he would have three weeks to recover before the visit to Craven Cottage.