Aston Villa striker John Carew, who missed Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough, is also doubtful for Saturday's clash at Arsenal.

Carew returned from a trip home yesterday, where he received the Norwegian PFA's Player of the Year award, to undergo an MRI scan on a hip injury.

He said: "I've got some trouble with my hip and it's impossible to say whether I'll be fit to play Arsenal."