Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill laments Laursen absence
Laursen is expected to finally announce he will be quitting the game during the next few days after the latest in a long line of knee setbacks.[LNB]The 31-year-old has been sidelined since early January when he appeared in the 2-1 home success over West Brom.[LNB]And O'Neill concedes Villa have struggled to replace his dominating presence in the penalty area and his knack of scoring vital goals at set-pieces.[LNB]O'Neill said: "We have missed Martin greatly. We have won matches without him this season but his overall contribution and absence has been a big loss.[LNB]"We have conceded 26 goals in 12 games but had only conceded three in the previous eight games when Martin hadn't played.[LNB]"But the overall picture is that we have missed him. We have missed his presence, his ability to score some goals for us, and he was as brave as a lion.[LNB]"His overall presence is what we have missed. He goes for everything. He has got a big heart.[LNB]"The ironic thing is he has had no problems with the other knee which is the one that gave him the problems throughout the last few years.[LNB]"He looks after himself brilliantly and, after the West Ham game in December, if you had said he would only play one more league game (against West Brom) I would have been really surprised."[LNB]O'Neill confirmed left-back Wilfred Bouma was unlikely to play again this season after having minor keyhole surgery to the ankle which has kept him out of action since July.[LNB]He said: "Bouma has been to see a specialist. He had a couple of particles floating around in his ankle. He has got that sorted but will be unlikely to play this season."[LNB][LNB] Aston Villa v Hull. Click here to bet.
