Villa hit by Hughes blow

The former Newcastle full-back was substituted at half-time at the Valley and Tubbs told the club's official website: "He's definitely out of the Northern Ireland squad in midweek and he's touch and go for the weekend". Amazingly he did not go on to say: "It's the latest blow for us, really. With Martin Laursen, Wilfred Bouma and Mark Delaney all injured and Olof Mellberg suspended for Saturday's home game, it leaves us with a threadbare team. We've got one of the smallest squads in the Premiership you know…budgetary constraints…really proud of the lads…all hail Ellis…zzz." But some things go without saying - Villa could struggle against Pompey.