Aston Villa fans are sweating on today's media conference for Martin Laursen.

The Sun says Villa boss Martin O'Neill will make a top defender his next priority signing if Martin Laursen is forced into an early retirement.

The Aston Villa boss is set to reveal today whether the former Denmark star, 31, intends to keep playing.

Laursen needs yet more knee surgery and may be out for nine months.

He informed O'Neill of his decision yesterday but wants the boss to break the news.