O'Neill reassures Davies

Defender backed to make full recovery

Last updated: 9th March 2008

Martin ONeill Fulham v Aston Villa

O'Neill: Backing for Davies

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says Curtis Davies's injury will not affect his permanent move from West Brom.

Davies, who is currently on loan at Villa from West Brom, faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious Achilles injury against Arsenal last weekend.

O'Neill is confident Davies will make a full recovery and insists the injury does

not affect his permanent switch to Villa from West Brom in the summer.

"Curtis is very philosophical about things," said O'Neill. "He is going to get on with it. He has got a great attitude towards it which is straight forward.

"He knows it is going to be laborious but he knows he just has to get on with it.

Never an issue

"His contract with us was never an issue at all because of the injury - but the injury is particularly disappointing for him.

"He had just got his first sniff of an England squad which gave him a big boost."

Meanwhile, O'Neill is hopeful Olof Mellberg and Nigel Reo-Coker will be fit for Wednesday's rearranged home clash with Middlesbrough.

Mellberg, who is leaving the club to join Juventus in the summer, has missed the last two games against Reading and Arsenal with an ankle injury.

Reo-Coker has been troubled by a back injury suffered against Reading which affected his mobility during the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

But both have made good progress during the past few days and should be fit to face Boro.

Fine
"The two of them should be fine," noted O'Neill.

"Olof has improved and by the time that Wednesday's game comes around they should both be in contention.

"I thought the thump in the back Reo-Coker got affected his whole mobility. He was complaining and struggling a little bit at Arsenal but didn't really want to come off."