Aston Villa central defender Curtis Davies is hoping to avoid surgery on his troublesome right shoulder. Davies experienced problems with the shoulder when a West Brom player and again last season and the current setback came against Porto on Friday.

Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov (shoulder) and right-back Luke Young (thigh) are already battling to be fit for the start of the campaign.

Boss Martin O'Neill said: "It is concerning that the shoulder seems a little weak.

"But at this stage we are not considering an operation to strengthen the shoulder."