Villa sweat on Gabby fitness

Villa are facing a striker crisis for their weekend game at Wigan after Gabriel Agbonlahor was carried off against Ajax on Thursday.

Agbonlahor had to be stretchered off during the closing stages of Villa's 2-1 victory over the Dutch side after colliding with Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.

Martin O'Neill is praying that the England under-21 star has escaped serious injury but, with strike partner John Carew battling to overcome the effects of an illness that forced him to miss Thursday, the Villa boss could find his attack resources severely stretched for the game at the JJB Stadium on Sunday.

Talking about Agbonlahor's injury, O'Neill said: "He has a lot of cuts across both knees after going in for the challenge. We're hoping that's all it will be. If it's severe cuts then that is something he can live with.

"I'm hoping he hasn't done any damage but we won't know until later today (Friday)."