The Danish international had feared he could be out for anything up to four months after failing to recover from a knock he picked up against Charlton Athletic last month. That was then revised to a few weeks after further examination revealed that the 27-year-old would not need constructive work on his knee-bone. However, Laursen had the operation yesterday and David O’Leary, that bastion of straight talking, today announced: “We're probably looking at six to eight weeks before we see him again."
Although you should not be overly surprised if he returns for Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace, his long-term absence is a blow to a Villa side with quality centre-backs hardly fighting to find a place in the team. With Vaclav Drobny lacking match fitness and Liam Ridgewell out until next month, Mark Delaney could get a longer opportunity to show his mettle in the middle. The Welshman became the latest to be hit by the injury jinx yesterday though, when a stomach bug forced JLloyd Samuel to move in from the wing while midfielder Peter Whittingham filled in at left-back. He should recover by the weekend though, else brace yourselves for the prospect of O’Leary removing his tracksuit and having a go himself.