Last week’s draw against Blackpool was generally regarded as a decent result, especially as they played the final twenty minutes with ten men after midfielder Jean Makoun’s dismissal for a studs-up challenge.

But with teams such as Wigan Athletic and arch-rivals Birmingham City picking up more points still, Villa have moved back towards the pack.

There was mixed news on the injury front for French supremo Gerard Houllier, with the imminent return of right-back Luke Young coming at the same time as news that utility defender Carlos Cuellar could be out for up to three weeks.

 

Meanwhile, manager Gerard Houllier is eyeing a summer transfer swoop for Barcelona’s out-of-favour central defender Gabriel Milito.

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s early strike gave Villa the lead at Bloomfield Road for only four minutes.  But Villa did well to hang on to a point after Makoun’s departure, about which manager Gerard Houllier had “no complaints.”

However, they also lost Cuellar to injury midway through the first-half as the 29-year-old tore a hamstring.

Houllier had better news about the 31-year-old Young, who looks set to make his Villa return from his long-term knee injury within the next ten days, having been on the sidelines since December 6^th.

The Villa boss said last weekend: “Young has trained fully this week and we have a practice game lined up for him.

“The game with Blackburn (see below) could be too soon for him, but it could be very soon after that.”

Both Young and Cuellar are reportedly aiming to be fit for Villa’s tricky trip to Bolton Wanderers on March 5^th.

The 30-year-old Milito has been an irregular starter for the Catalan giants and was touted around EPL clubs prior to January’s transfer window without success.

However, Milito will be a free agent in the summer and Villa have expressed an interest, although they may face competition from Italian side Genoa.

Villa have also re-ignited their interest in Le Havre midfielder Gueida Fofana, after a January move for the 19-year-old fell through because of his wage demands.

Villa host inconsistent Blackburn Rovers in the EPL this coming Saturday afternoon, ahead of next Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round visit to Manchester City.

Should Villa progress they will host either Everton or Reading in the quarter-finals on Sunday March 13^th, with a 4.45pm kick-off.