Wilfred Bouma is backing Aston Villa teammate Stephen O'Halloran to make a successful return from knee surgery.

Bouma told Villa's website: "He's a good player. He is still young and he can play as a centre-half as well so like me he can play in both positions.

"Unluckily for him he has a really tough injury right now. Fingers crossed everything will be OK for him again.

"I have been here for a couple of years and from what I've seen of him, he's a good player.

"He's already made his senior debut for Ireland so if everything works out with his knee I see a good future for him."