Martin O'Neill is convinced Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey will be fit sooner rather than later after suffering a recurrence of a back problem. Heskey has had to ensure a series of injury niggles since his £3.5million switch from Wigan in January to be reunited with O'Neill.

O'Neill said: "It's not a serious problem which will keep Emile out for weeks.

"I know Emile from the past, he's had an ongoing back problem throughout his time. It comes up now and again and it gets very stiff and it obstructs him.

"But overall it's not a monumentally difficult thing and we're trying to get to the bottom of it."