Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill expects Bouma back next season
Bouma dislocated his ankle during the Intertoto Cup clash with Odense BK in July and was sidelined for eight months.[LNB]He looked on course to play during the current campaign after notching up three 90-minute appearances for the reserves.[LNB]But some floating bone in his ankle meant the Dutch international required further surgery.[LNB]O'Neill said: "Freddy will miss the rest of the season. It's been a wretched time for him. He has gone to see the specialist who helped him with the injury originally.[LNB]"He has gone in for some keyhole surgery to remove some of the particles that have been floating around.[LNB]"Whether they've been there for a week or a few months, we're not sure. But it's causing him discomfort.[LNB]"The long and short of it is that he'll be out for the rest of the season. But he should, with a bit of luck, come roaring back during pre-season."[LNB]Meanwhile striker and 13-goal joint top scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker look set to be fit for Monday's Premier League clash with Hull at Villa Park.[LNB]Agbonlahor and Reo-Coker both missed the 1-1 draw at Bolton last weekend with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.[LNB]O'Neill is confident the pair will be fit for the Bank Holiday clash.[LNB]He said: "Nigel and Gabby should be fine. Gabby has trained - although he did train last week to be fair and still missed the Bolton game.[LNB]"It was a precaution that he didn't play at the weekend because he just felt the hamstring. But I think he will be fine for Hull.[LNB]"Nigel has come in this week and has gradually done some work. He is feeling much, much better which is good news. He should be fine too."[LNB]O'Neill is also hoping right-back Luke Young will be available after a foot problem forced him to miss the trip to the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]The former Celtic boss said: "Luke has been sore for quite a number of weeks - playing with pain-killing injections.[LNB]"In the game against West Ham 10 or 11 days ago, he felt the injection wore off rather quickly although he played through it.[LNB]"I thought the best thing to do was to give him a rest. He's been able to do that and we'll look at him again towards the end of the week."[LNB]"He definitely feels better and is seeing the benefits of missing the game against Bolton.[LNB]"But we'll see. It might be a problem that stays with him until the end of the season."[LNB][LNB]
