Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier will not be in charge of his side`s
Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke on Monday night.
Houllier was due to meet Villa`s players on Sunday before flying back
home to tie up the loose ends with the French Football Federation after
quitting as their technical director to take over in the West Midlands.
The former Liverpool boss will also miss next Saturday's home match with
Bolton - although he hopes to attend - and is looking at being at the
helm for the Carling Cup game with Blackburn on Wednesday week, although
he will be assisted by caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald.
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He said: "I have to go back. I have a very important meeting Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday.
"Even if I wanted to take a private jet out (to the Stoke game) it
wouldn't be possible.
"I apologise for that but I will be watching the game on television.
"If all goes to plan the Carling Cup match with be the first game I pick
the team for.
"But I will do that with Kevin obviously. I think Kevin will stay
alongside me (for that game)."
MacDonald has already indicated he does not want to be part of
Houllier's first-team coaching set up and will instead return to his
role as reserve-team manager.
The former Liverpool midfielder will check on the fitness of Stephen
Ireland (hamstring) before finalising the side to face Stoke.
Ireland suffered a hamstring injury during the warm-up to the 1-0 win
over Everton a fortnight ago and was replaced by Nigel Reo-Coker.
Midfielder Steve Sidwell could come into contention after playing 90
minutes for the reserves in midweek following his recovery from an
Achilles injury.
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is hopeful of being able to play
against his former club after missing Denmark's Euro 2012 qualifier on
Tuesday due to an infection in an elbow problem he sustained against
Wolves.
Transfer deadline day signings Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jermaine Pennant and
Marc Wilson may have to settle for a place on the bench.
But arguably Stoke`s biggest boost is the news that summer signing
Kenwyne Jones is fit to start.
The Trinidad and Tobago international striker injured an ankle on the
opening day of the season against Wolves and, after missing the home
game against Tottenham, he returned at Chelsea but was not 100%.
"The injury came at the best time because having the international break
has given me the time to get fit, so I guess my season starts on Monday
night," Jones said.
"It was possibly the worst thing that could happen to me but I've had to
deal with it, it has come and gone.
"Sometimes these things in football happen - at the time I thought it
was serious but thankfully it wasn't - and you have to deal with it.
"I look forward to every game but, at the same time, it is going to be
special.
"I'm not really concentrating on Villa, we have to concentrate on what
we are going to do and how we are going to win the game."
Meanwhile, Potters boss Tony Pulis has warned new arrivals Gudjohnsen,
Pennant and Wilson they have to pull their weight or they will be
spending plenty of time on the sidelines.
Pulis has admitted the trio are slightly behind their colleagues in
terms of fitness.
They have had the international break to acclimatise to the Stoke way of
doing things but the real test will come on match day, with all three
expected to be in the squad for the visit of Villa.
Pulis, who has always emphasised how strong a team unit he has, demands
no less than 100% effort and commitment from his players and that is
something the newcomers are getting to grips with.
"We need Eidur, Jermaine and Marc to understand it is all about the team
and not individuals and [they have] to throw off the shackles of
individuality and join the group - that is what it is all about," said
Pulis, whose side have yet to register a point from their first three
matches.
"We've been together for a long time and we have been successful because
we are a club and have stuck together in difficult times and we will do
the same this time around."
Source: DSG