Hokey Cokey & Other Injury 'Blows'

Injuries seem to be starting to bite just slightly for Villa.

It was revealed yesterday that Marlon Harewood has broken a toe, sorry, a metatarsal (as if we know what one of those is for goodness sake.. oh hang on, I've already said, it is a toe!).

Now we have Nigel Hokey-Cokey who you would think would have featured in the Carling Cup semi's and especially the FA Cup game, has a 'stress fracture' in his ankle which was picked up in training. MON says the injury is a 'major blow'. Not 100% sure why but then, he does offer cover if nothing else. Luckily Fabian Delph appears to be coming into his own and we do have - as a last resort maybe these days as he really hasn't settled (fair or not?) Steve Sidwell in midfield.

As the season wears on this could start to bite slightly, especially as Stiliyan Petrov runs his legs off during games and does seem to tire. I think - as I discussed with a mate last night at the Arsenal game - that people miss the dirty work that Stan puts in and the tackles he has to make.

Hokey Cokey will apparently be out for around 12 weeks.

I'm rambling.

Stephen Warnock is also injured and MON told the official site: 'News on Stephen is not fantastic either but we'll see.' Warnock picked up a knock in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi v Blackburn. We do have a 24-hour re-call for on-loan to Nottingham Forest full-back Nicky Shorey by the way.

Oh and any talk of Habib Beye being sold will surely be right out the window now? We need cover!

Talking about The Hare, according to Mirror reporter James Nursey, (I mean reporter for the Mirror, not a reporter on mirror's you understand?!) Harewood will be left to recover from his surgery on the broken toe, sorry, metatarsal and will be able to leave in the summer on a free. The big man had successful surgery on Monday and should be fit and ready (for what I don't know) by the summer.





Ah, Vital Villan also did the same article, whoops... his take on the injuries:

Nigel Reo-Coker is set for a 3 month spell on the sidelines after suffering a stress fracture in his ankle.

The Official Site has just released a mini statement from Mini Monny explaining that after suffering a knock in training, a scan revealed that Coker had suffered a stress fracture, and will be out for up to 3 months, ruling him out pretty much for the season and more importantly our trip to Wembley.

Monny described the scan results as a 'devastating blow.'

'Nigel will be out for some considerable time. That's a major blow to us.'

Sadly on the injury front it's also not the only bad news we have. Stephen Warnock who missed last night's clash with Arsenal is also struggling with the shin problem he's picked up.

Monny said the outlook for Warnock was not 'fantastic' and although he may miss our next match at Fulham, he's hopeful it won't be any more annoying than that, although he'll likely undergo a late fitness test regardless.

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