Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Friday July 24 2009
Time: 12:25PM
UK time is: 07:40:27
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Bouma Due Back Soon - Downing Not So Soon
According to the Express & Star, 31-year-old left-back Wilfred Bouma might be fit for the start of the season.
The talk not so long ago was suggesting he might be forced to retire but the latest update from Martin O'Neill shows the player is back in training and things are going ok, albeit slowly.
The Dutchman picked up an awful ankle injury last July in the Intertoto Cup third-round game v Odense at Villa Park. It was bloody horrible, I was right in line with it and thought his foot was set to snap off the angle it was at and all from a freak accident, it wasn't as if anyone had put in a bad tackle, he just seemed to get his boot stuck and went over on his ankle.
O'Neill told the Express and Star: 'He is back training. He is pretty happy with proceedings and it's just taking a bit more time. He had that setback but seems to have recovered from that.
I reckon he might be back some time in August, but please don't hold me to that.'
Meanwhile, and I don't see this as a new story to be honest, it was quoted on this site ages ago before we bought him.... anyhow... It appears that Villa might have to wait until Christmas for the appearance of Stewart Downing our summer arrival from Middlesbrough.
Before anyone starts moaning (!) why not just count him as a January transfer window signing? If we'd waited for him to get fit, the price would probably have been 50% more, so we just grabbed him when the opportunity arose?
The report in the Birmingham Mail suggests it has just been discovered he'll not be fit until November / December but Gareth Southgate said that at least a month ago!
Downing told them that the target will be late on in November or early December. 'If I’m ready before then that’s a bonus, if it’s after then it just needs time to heal.' He has a pin in his foot (broken via a tackle by Stiliyan Petrov whoops!) which should be removed in September, then he has to build up.
He also says despite wanting to play before Christmas, Martin O'Neill is more interested in having the player '100% right'.
Full quotes and story: www.birminghammail.net
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Your Comments
Noooooooo!!! If you count Downing as a January transfer, that means we still haven't signed anyone!
;o)
McGrathisgod
Noooooooo!!! If you count Downing as a January transfer, that means we still haven't signed anyone!
;o)
McGrathisgod
The deceiving thing about Downing just being a January signing, is that we normally don't start to pay January signings there wages back to July? Or do we? Anyway, Martin is right, make sure he is properly recovered, dont try to push him back. Good news on the Bouma front though! Be great if he is already back by the beginning of September!
villa_de
The deceiving thing about Downing just being a January signing, is that we normally don't start to pay January signings there wages back to July? Or do we? Anyway, Martin is right, make sure he is properly recovered, dont try to push him back. Good news on the Bouma front though! Be great if he is already back by the beginning of September!
villa_de
Since when was O'Neill interested in having players 100% right? Davies played with a bad shoulder for the last three months of the season. Gabby played time and again when not 100%. Carew didn't seem to be fully fit for 90% of last season. Luke Young played and played until his foot couldn't take it any more. Even Barry played with a slight groin problem for a considerable period. Expect Downing to be back in late October, and to break down in mid November, before coming back to 'boost' out late push for 7th place and the outside chance of a Europa League spot.
Albarnista
Since when was O'Neill interested in having players 100% right? Davies played with a bad shoulder for the last three months of the season. Gabby played time and again when not 100%. Carew didn't seem to be fully fit for 90% of last season. Luke Young played and played until his foot couldn't take it any more. Even Barry played with a slight groin problem for a considerable period. Expect Downing to be back in late October, and to break down in mid November, before coming back to 'boost' out late push for 7th place and the outside chance of a Europa League spot.
Albarnista
Why is anyone bothered that we are paying Dowing's wages for 6 moths before he can pay. Far more money has been "wasted" at VP in other area's. I say it's am "investment" at the moment and that if we had waited until he was fit his price would have increased more than 6 months worth of wages.
HolteEnder43
Why is anyone bothered that we are paying Dowing's wages for 6 moths before he can pay. Far more money has been "wasted" at VP in other area's. I say it's am "investment" at the moment and that if we had waited until he was fit his price would have increased more than 6 months worth of wages.
HolteEnder43
lol, thanks McGrathisgod, knew someone would point out the folly of my argument! LOL...! Agree HolteEnder43, tis my opinion 100% that!
The Fear
lol, thanks McGrathisgod, knew someone would point out the folly of my argument! LOL...! Agree HolteEnder43, tis my opinion 100% that!
The Fear
There were reports coming out of Middlesbrough before we signed Stewart Downing suggesting that he wouldn't be back in action until December/January time, so I was surprised to hear talk of an October return once he had put pen to paper at Villa Park. As for Freddie Bouma, its good to see him nearing a return to action, hopefully his recouperation can now continue without any further set-backs, and he'll be pushing for a first team return at the earliest opportunity. Still think though that if Nicky Shorey could only get his act together, then Freddie would face a difficult task in ousting our signing from Reading. Still, there will be competition there, and isn't that what its all about?
glensider
There were reports coming out of Middlesbrough before we signed Stewart Downing suggesting that he wouldn't be back in action until December/January time, so I was surprised to hear talk of an October return once he had put pen to paper at Villa Park. As for Freddie Bouma, its good to see him nearing a return to action, hopefully his recouperation can now continue without any further set-backs, and he'll be pushing for a first team return at the earliest opportunity. Still think though that if Nicky Shorey could only get his act together, then Freddie would face a difficult task in ousting our signing from Reading. Still, there will be competition there, and isn't that what its all about?
glensider
agree glensider, not had the time today to go through the old stuff on here to check the quotes but Southgate said all this weeks ago, the press are trying to blow it all up as some sort of major issue now which it isn't, out lot 100% knew about this!
The Fear
agree glensider, not had the time today to go through the old stuff on here to check the quotes but Southgate said all this weeks ago, the press are trying to blow it all up as some sort of major issue now which it isn't, out lot 100% knew about this!
The Fear
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