Source: Daily_Mail
Back with a Bouma! Villa defender banking on end to his injury misery
Wilfred Bouma is hoping his 18-month injury misery is finally behind him after making another comeback for Aston Villa.[LNB]The Holland international has not played a first-team game since dislocating his ankle in an Intertoto Cup clash with BK Odense in July 2008.[LNB]Left-back Bouma's initial comeback stalled in March after three reserve games when suffering a reaction to the ankle setback.[LNB] Hoping to return: Villa's Bouma in action against Portsmouth in December 2007[LNB]Then in October he played one reserve game only to sustain a toe problem.[LNB]Now he has completed another 90 minutes for the reserves - against Chelsea at Villa Park on Monday night - and is keeping his fingers crossed his troubles are behind him.[LNB]Villa boss: O'Neill[LNB]Bouma said: 'I'm very pleased because it was my first game back after a long time out.[LNB]'I've only been back in training for 10 days so I was delighted with what I could do last night.[LNB]'Before the game we had said if I could get an hour it would be great and anything more would be even better, so to play the whole 90 minutes I'm very pleased.[LNB]'I felt great. I've been here before but it's always great to be back out on the pitch.[LNB]'You have to get back to full match fitness and just take it a little bit easy.[LNB]'But you can't really take it easy because sometimes you will need to go in as hard as you can on the pitch. That's exactly what I did and thankfully I came out of it okay.'[LNB]Bouma added: 'I'm really, really happy. This is now the third time on the comeback trail so hopefully it's third time lucky and I've got everything bad out of the way and behind me.'[LNB]Martin O'Neill's Villa are enjoying a fine season again, with Saturday's 2-0 win at Fulham keeping up their hopes of a fourth placed finish.[LNB]And they face Manchester United in the Carling Cup final at Wembley later this month.[LNB] Shorey joins Fulham on loan with view to permanent switch from Aston Villa Martin O'Neill plays down Villa's Champions League hopes despite thumping win at FulhamASTON VILLA FC
