Phillips Has Time To Reflect!

Kevin Phillips says he is 'really disappointed' at the start he has made to his Villa career, but is hoping to get back on track and be fit for this weekends tough match against Manchester United at Villa Park.

The former Sunderland and Southampton striker has missed a fair few games this season with injuries and also suffered with a stomach bug. He had to sit out the Bolton draw on Saturday after twisting his ankle in training last week.

He told the official site: 'I've had a problem with that ankle ever since I injured it quite badly last season and it's now a weak joint.' (I had one of those once, kept puffing away at it, but absolutely no affect at all. Oh, hang on, I see what he means now!)

'I feel really disappointed because it seems like just when I get it together,something else comes along. So far I've suffered a stomach strain which caused me to miss the Manchester United game, then the calf injury, and now this. Hopefully, I'll get over this injury and try and get myself fit for good this time.'

He has also had some time to reflect! 'Being injured again, I've had time to reflect on my time at Villa so far, and I have to admit, it doesn't make for pleasant thoughts on the whole. Coming to a new club, I was eager to make a good impression but it hasn't happened for me. When I have got going, I've been quite happy. I've still managed to score four goals from 11 starts, but as soon as I play two or three games, there's been an interruption through injury.'

Adding: 'This has probably been the worst start to a season I've ever had.' (Not been the best for Villa either, you have to go back 35 years to find a worse one!) 'Hopefully though I can get over this and I won't have any more injuries for the rest of the season. I have to be looking to target the Manchester United game.'

Lets hope he does regain his fitness, he has so much to offer strike wise, it would be awful if injuries now blight the remainder of his career. Shame Ellis wouldn't back his signature years ago, he'd have got us into Europe year in and year out with his goal scoring instincts.

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