Aston Villa’s fortunes have taken a turn for the mixed in recent weeks, both in terms of results and injuries.

Four EPL points out of six at Villa Park, including their pulsating 2-2 draw with Manchester United, were followed by a tame submission at Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

And manager Gerard Houllier this week suffered a setback with the news that England under-21 international midfielder Marc Albrighton will miss up to a month after surgery to remove his appendix.

There was better news, however, of fellow young England cap Fabian Delph, who looks set to return in the New Year having missed the whole season to date with knee ligament damage.

 

The second-city outfit lie in 13^th in the EPL, one of a number of teams clustered in mid-table, following their win over a controversially-understrength Blackpool side by deservedly going two goals up against United.

However, Houllier’s men were hauled back by two quick, late United goals and were then outfought by Blackburn last Sunday.

After the Ewood Park setback, Houllier admitted: “We have to blame ourselves for a performance that was not very good.”

21-year-old Albrighton missed the match, joining a list of 10 unavailable senior players, and had his operation early this week. He is expected to be out for up to four weeks,” according to reports.

Albrighton has scored three times in 13 games this season and has been generally regarded as the most promising of the crop of young Villa players brought into first-team contention since the summer.

Delph has been training with an injury specialist in the United States after being sidelined by cruciate ligament damage since April.

Villa assistant boss Gary McAllister, who gave Delph his senior football break when he was Leeds manager, said: “He’s gone over to the USA to break his rehab up. Fingers crossed, he’ll be here and ready in January.”

Another Villa youngster, 20-year-old Barry Bannan, signed a new contract last week which will keep him at the club until 2014. Bannan also made his Scottish international debut last week, in their 3-0 friendly win over the Faroe Islands.

Meanwhile 37-year-old French “youngster” Robert Pires has signed a six-month contract. Pires, who won two EPL titles and World Cup and European Championship medals in a six-year spell at Arsenal, made his debut as a second-half substitute at Blackburn.

Villa entertain EPL high-flyers Arsenal in this weekend’s Saturday lunchtime kick-off.