Villa starlet 'raring to go'

Marc Albrighton has confirmed that he is over his injury problems and will be fit for the start of Aston Villa's pre-season on July 5.

The 22-year-old winger missed the back end of last season due to a thigh problem that struck him down on three separate occasions throughout the course of the campaign. However, after a summer of rehabilitation, Albrighton has now confirmed that Villa's medical team have given him the green light to join in with the rest of the first-team squad when the new era at Villa Park under Paul Lambert gets underway next Thursday. Albrighton said: "I am fit and I am raring to go. I strained my thigh three times in three months which was really frustrating. "But I have come in during the summer to make sure it is healing well and looking good. The physios are very positive about it and say it is progressing well." Albrighton is now hoping to remain fit and he is keen to recapture the form of his debut season in 2010-2011. He added on the club's website: "I had a good first season but the second wasn't so good. It's a huge season ahead for me. I'm looking to impress early on and get the confidence which will take me on for the remainder of the season. There is a new gaffer (Paul Lambert) and I'm relishing the chance to try and impress and the challenges ahead."