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However, he was unable to recapture that form during this summers InterToto Cup competition and subsequently lost his first team place.
But, it has now emerged that Hitzlsperger was suffering with a stomach strain - something he failed to explain to Villa boss Graham Taylor.
Taylor now believes Hitzlsperger is close to a return to first team action: “Thomas is training a lot better now," he told the clubs website.
"He’s had this problem and he had mentioned it briefly, but kept on training.
"He kept on training and playing without bringing it properly to our attention. He never mentioned that he was feeling it but he’s had the break and you can see the difference now.
"He is now training much better. He still can feel it slightly, but only slightly.
“You can see him moving so much better on the training pitch now and I’m hoping it’ll not be too long before he’s fully fit.”