John Carew backed for quick return for Aston Villa

Dec 3 2008 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill remains confident John Carew will soon regain fitness – and without the need for surgery.

Carew has started just two of nine matches since complaining of fatigue before the UEFA Cup tie with Ajax which then saw him break a late-night curfew.

He then had hip and thigh problems which developed into a related back problem.

But the Villa boss harbors hopes of a swift return after the club sought medical advice.

“He will still be struggling for a while but I would be hoping that the treatment that we have for Carew would work,’’ O’Neill said.

“I am hoping that he will be back sooner rather than later.

“It’s a back injury but it relates to the others (thigh and hip).

“It is something that has come up. I’m no medical expert but he went to see a specialist.

“As for surgery, that is not something that we would want to