Aston Villa: Gabby Agbonlahor and Luke Young join casualty list

Dec 11 2010 by Mark Woodward, Birmingham Mail

VILLA have been dealt an untimely double blow ahead of the West Brom derby with Gabby Agbonlahor and Luke Young both ruled out.

Agbonlahor, a scorer in the claret and blues’ two wins over Albion the season before last, has a chest infection.

Young, Villa’s best defender so far this season, is awaiting the results of a scan on a hip/groin problem. It is a setback for Gerard Houllier’s strugglers who have found it hard to score – and prevent – goals.

Carlos Cuellar and Habib Beye are competing to replace Young at right-back, while fit-again Emile Heskey is likely to take Agbonlahor’s place.

Houllier said: “Two players won’t be taking part. Luke Young felt it on Thursday and tried yesterday morning but had to pull out from training.

“He had a scan yesterday afternoon and we will see. If it doesn’t reveal something special maybe it will be one week. Gabby is sick with a chest infection.”

Barry Bannan will return after a groin injury.