Defender Davies returns to training after three month Villa absence

Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has been given the go ahead to resume training after three months on the sidelines following shoulder surgery.The former England Under-21 player went under the knife in mid September after his shoulder popped out of its socket three times in the space of a month.Comeback trail: Davies has returned to trainingDavies had been expected to be recuperating until the new year, but will return to training next week ahead of schedule.'Curtis has had some really good news. He saw the specialist and he has given him the okay to train,' confirmed Villa boss Martin O'Neill.'It is one of those injuries where you wouldn't have been tempted to rush anyone back but he has been doing very well.'The original time frame was about 16 weeks but Curtis is the sort of person who is always determined to come back ahead of schedule.'I think the specialist is pretty pleased, and so are the physios here who have worked very hard with him.'He was ill for a couple of days last week but, with a wee bit of luck, should join in with us training-wise next week.'Davies made the £10million switch from West Brom two years ago after initially spending a season on loan and formed an effective partnership with Martin Laursen. Tough competition: Dunne and Collins have forged a great partnership at VillaBut he will face a battle to regain his first-team spot with O'Neill having signed Richard Dunne and James Collins in the summer, while Carlos Cuellar has also impressed so far this season.  ASTON VILLA v Stoke: Martin O'Neill has no new concerns ahead of Potters testSpurs, Villa or Man City - which team can gatecrash the top four this season?Andy Townsend's Boot Room: Zola doesn't need executive stressASTON VILLA FC

Source: Daily_Mail