New Aston Villa signing Stewart Downing has admitted it will be early December before he is fit to play after suffering a foot injury at the end of last season. Downing said: "Once I heard in the summer that the manager was after me, I wanted to go.

"I thought I might have to wait until January which would have been frustrating because it's a World Cup year.

"I was thinking 'will Mr Capello pick me if I'm playing in the Championship?' The chances are probably 'no' so I do owe Martin O'Neill a lot and I can't wait to get fit."

Downing, 25, added: "The injury is a bit of a strange one. It's not a break but there's a fracture there. I've had to have it pinned and that should come out in September.

"Then it's a case of building it up. The target is early December. If I'm ready before then that's a bonus. If it's after, then it just needs time to heal.

"But I'm sure I will play before Christmas. The manager wants me 100 per cent right and is prepared to give me extra time to do it."