Laursen won't rush Villa return Villa skipper to step up recovery from knee surgery

Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has revealed he is reluctant to set a date for his comeback from a knee injury.

Laursen has been sidelined for the past two months after undergoing surgery, but is due to step up his recovery next week.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill is hoping the centre-half will be fit to reclaim his place in the team for the trip to Manchester United in early April.

However, the Denmark international is not setting a fixed date for his return and is keen to adopt a cautious approach as he builds up his fitness.

Step by step

"I'm really happy with the way the knee is," said Laursen. "I don't really want to say when I'll be back. Next week I'll try and work outside.

"I'll try and run and do a bit of ball work, and then we will see how it goes. We'll take it step by step, day by day.

"It's been difficult to watch from the sidelines and it's good to have a goal, but the next day you can have a setback and feel a bit sore, so we will see."

Laursen is desperate to return and play a part in Villa's push for a UEFA Champions League spot.

He said: "It is a special time for the club, and we are doing so well. We have the possibility to play Champions League football next year.

"We are playing some great football; we have a very talented squad. I would have loved to be involved these last couple of months, but it has just made me work harder to get back to fitness."
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Agbonlahor - Rest was crucial Tiredness will not be an issue, says Villa striker

Gabriel Agbonlahor believes that Martin O'Neill's decision to rest Aston Villa's star players could prove crucial in the Premier League run-in.

The Northern Irish manager kept most of his first-team regulars at home for Villa's Uefa Cup away leg against CSKA Moscow on Thursday night.

The young England striker says that the recovery time will be vital to their hopes of securing a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

"We have had our time off to recover so the squad we have got should be enough to see us through the rest of the season," said Agbonlahor.

Recover

"You need time to recover, the manager gives us that, and it will help us to see things through to the end."

Villa currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League, six points ahead of Arsenal and Agbonlahor is confident the unfamiliar position will not cause his side's performances to tail-off towards the end of the season

"You also get used to playing lots of games. For the last couple of seasons, most of the team have got used to it. It is not really a problem," he added.

"I don't see tiredness being a problem and we are all aware what is at stake. Qualifying for the Champions League would be superb.

"The next few weeks are really big but there is a mood of optimism amongst the players. We are going into every game feeling confident and looking for a positive result.

"There is great strength and determination in this team. We have scored quite a few late goals. It shows the team will fight to the end."

Reward

Meanwhile, O'Neill is reportedly to reward fans of Aston Villa who had made the trip to Russia in midweek with a special dinner, paid for by the club.

Almost 300 supporters travelled to Moscow on Thursday night to see a second-string team beaten 2-0 and eliminated from the competition.

"I think it's a superb and a great gesture. Nobody asked for it and nobody expected it," Villa fan Andrew Dear told the Daily Star.

"I just think it's typical of the regime at Villa now in that they have an understanding of the fans and what it's like to be a supporter these days."
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