Sidwell ready for return

Villa new boy desperate to make impression

Last updated: 1st October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Sidwell ready for return

Sidwell: Struggled for fitness

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Steve Sidwell has spoken of his desire to kick-start his Aston Villa career having finally resumed full training.

The former Reading midfielder moved to the Midlands in the summer from Chelsea for a £5.5million fee but has been beset by calf and knee injuries.

To date Sidwell has made just one senior appearance, figuring in Villa's Intertoto Cup game against Odense in late July.

But now the 25-year-old has been given the all-clear to join in full training and is hoping to make up for lost time, although he is not expected to feature in Thursday's Uefa Cup match against Litex Lovech.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "It has obviously been a frustrating time for Steve, who was keen to make an impression with his new club.

"Throughout his career, he has managed to stay injury-free - until now. But he is now available for full training again and wants to play a full part."

Setbacks

Sidwell added: "To get these setbacks has been a blow for me after deciding to move to Villa but hopefully there is now some light at the end of the tunnel.

"You want to make an impression when you move clubs and it will be good if I can make up eventually for lost time.

"The club is really buzzing at the moment, in the top four of the Premier League and hopefully going to qualify for the group stages of the Uefa Cup, and it is an exciting place to be."

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