Fresh injury fears for Lambert

Paul Lambert has been hit by the news Brett Holman is a doubt for Aston Villa's trip to West Ham after suffering an ankle injury.

The Villa chief's worst fears may have been realised with this week's international friendly matches coming so soon before the new Premier League campaign kicks off after Holman limped out of Australia's 3-1 friendly defeat against Scotland at Hiberinan's Easter Road on Wednesday. Lambert, who will already be without Gabriel Agbonlahor, Richard Dunne, Marc Albrighton and Chris Herd for his first competitive game at the helm in Saturday's trip to Upton Park, will be keeping his fingers crossed that the summer arrival will not be ruled out of the match. It initially looked like the Bosman free transfer signing from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar would definitely miss the Hammers game, but the Australian football team confirmed on Twitter that he only suffered a slight ankle knock and is in the capable hands of of physio Les Gelis. Lambert will no doubt wait for Holman to return to the Villa training ground to have the injury assessed by his medical staff before making a decision on his chances of playing at West Ham. Meanwhile, Samir Carruthers has also confirmed on Twitter that he too is carrying a slight ankle knock which will make him a doubt for the weekend.