Martin Laursen will bounce back from latest injury, says Aston Villa boss

Jan 21 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill insists Martin Laursen’s latest knee injury does not fill him with “doom and gloom” and has placed his faith in his skipper to bounce back from adversity.

Villa are looking to wrap their influential Danish defender in cotton wool with Laursen’s right knee – not the left that almost ended his career three-and-a-half years ago – still sore after the derby win over Albion.

Scans on the joint taken on Monday have so far proved inconclusive, although Villa will find out more when club doctor Roddy MacDonald reports back from America where he is with Stephen O’Halloran who is awaiting knee surgery.

O’Neill suspects that the injury is no more than “wear and tear” brought on by the amount of football he has played over the past 21 months.

Laursen has enjoyed an almost spotless attendance record since April 2007.

“It’s obviously frustrating for him,” said O’Neill.

“In terms of time out, we have no real idea until we get the results of his scan.

“If the scan shows something fresh that’s a difficulty, but we’re not expecting that.