Bouma closes on comeback

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill believes the return to fitness of injured full-back Wilfred Bouma will feel like a new signing. The Dutchman has been out of action since July after he sustained an horrific dislocated ankle following a collision with an opponent in the early stages of Villa's Intertoto Cup third-round victory over Odense.However, after a lengthy rehabilitation process, Bouma played his first 90-minute competitive match in a reserve meeting with Chelsea at the start of March and he is now on the verge of his first-team return.The left-back underwent specific training during Villa's recent sunshine getaway in Dubai, and O'Neill - whose UEFA Champions League-chasing squad are beginning to show signs of tiredness - is excited by the prospect of his recovery. O'Neill said: "Wilfred is chomping at the bit. He is ready to go. That reserve game has helped him but he still has a bit of work to do physically."We worked him in one versus one, two versus two and three versus three situations in the recent training camp in Dubai and he is raring to go again."Wilfred has been out all season after having a fantastic 2007-08 campaign. It's now up to him to recapture that."It won't happen overnight because he still has some work to do. But again, when he does return, it will genuinely feel like a new signing."

Source: SKY_Sports