Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says John Carew is edging closer to a comeback from a back injury.

"John is making progress as well which is encouraging," he said. "You cannot put a definitive date on things like this but we are encouraged.

"He is feeling much, much better and in a week or so he has another appointment with the specialist.

"We are treating things on their merits. He has been out doing some training but he hasn't joined in with the team."

The news is much better for Villa's other first-team casualty Wilfred Bouma, who is expected to be back in first-team action within five weeks.

Bouma is back in training following his broken and dislocated ankle against Odense in July.

"Freddie is doing a little bit of training now, he is working his way back in again," O'Neill told the Birmingham Mail.

"Fitness is a big thing but at the moment, in terms of being able to do running and things like that, he has been doing really fine.

"We are taking it on a day-to-day basis."