Steve Sidwell is hoping to return to first team action for his new club Aston Villa after the current international break.

The former Chelsea and Reading midfielder has endured a frustrating couple of months with recurring knee and calf injuries preventing him from making his first Premier League game for Villa.

However, the 25 year old has now successfully completed a friendly match and received no ill effects. He now hopes to be available for the team’s next Premier League game against Portsmouth.

He said “I've been training now for a while but I needed some games…it's been a really frustrating time. It couldn't have come at a worse time coming to a new club and obviously trying to impress in the early stages….But it has happened…and I am back now”.

Sidwell joined Villa from Chelsea for a fee believed to be around £5 Million in the summer.