Aston Villa: John Carew takes first steps towards Villa comeback

Jan 17 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

JOHN Carew has handed Villa a major boost by returning to training for the first time since sustaining his troublesome back injury.

The big Norwegian striker joined in a session with his team-mates at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday following a two-month lay-off.

But today’s match at Sunderland will come too soon for Carew and Villa are reluctant to put a time-frame on when he will be available for action again.

“This week it’s been encouraging that big John Carew’s trained with us,” said manager Martin O’Neill, who was sweating on the fitness of two unnamed first-teamers ahead of the visit to the Stadium of Light.

“It will be a bit too early for him yet and I’m not sure what kind of reaction he’s had because I’ve not seen or spoken to the doctor about it.

“But he did a wee bit of work with us and that’s encouraging.”