Aston Villa FC

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O'Neill voices Bouma support

28 Jul 2008 - 11:00:10

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is upbeat about the prospects of Dutch defender Wilfred Bouma making a complete recovery from a serious ankle injury.

The 30-year-old was injured early on in the 1-0 win over Odense in the Intertoto Cup on Saturday, suffering a dislocated right ankle which has already been re-set and plastered.

O'Neill told the club's official website: The operation went very well and everybody, including Freddie, is very optimistic he will make a rapid recovery. Freddie's in good spirits

"It was a bad injury, but with the level of treatment he has had and the post-operative prognosis we've been given, we're all hoping to see him back, perhaps sooner than everyone expected on Saturday night.

"It's obviously a serious injury to a player who's been playing exceptionally well - he had a great, great season last year and he'll be missed.

"However, he has good strength of character and I hope he'll come through it. I'm sure he will because if anyone can it's him."