Luckless Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney should know today the full extent of his latest brush with injury.

The seemingly injury-jinxed Welsh international limped out of Sunday night's FA Cup fifth round 1-1 draw with Manchester City at half time with a knee problem. He yesterday went for a scan to ascertain whether there was any lasting damage.

If this morning's expected scan result is bad news it c ould have immediate repercussions on Delaney's imminent contract talks despite optimistic noises from the player himself.

A decision is due to be made on the Welshman's future a week tomorrow, St David's Day, as to whether Delaney will play for Villa next season.

Manager David O'Leary has told his board he would like Delaney to stay but he remains confused by a clause in the player's contract that the matter should not be dealt with until March 1.

O'Leary said: "The part I find hard is this thing that his people have put in. It's a funny thing.

"The contract has an option in the club's favour. And Delaney's representatives agreed to this option. But I've never really come across anything like this option.

"I want the boy to stay, without a doubt. Any time he's played, in general he's done very well for me.

"And although there's things I can't go into, I've given my recommendation to the club that I want him to stay and I'm sure the club will make the right recommendation as well.

"But the club has stated all along that they will make that decision on that contract on the day they have to do it. Nothing more has been said. And I'm just hoping the response will be a positive one."

Delaney has support in the dressing room, having impressed in the 13 league games since being recalled in December in his secondary role of centre-half, deputising for the injured Olof Mellberg before displacing young Liam Ridgewell.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, Villa's hero in Sunday night's tie with several key saves, said: "Mark's been playing really well.

"He's been tremendous at the back, he's reliable, and he's set up a few goals too, and even scored one."

Delaney has started in fewer than half of Villa's league games in the seven and a half years he has spent as a regular. But two of those absences resulted from challenges so bad, by Fulham's Carlos Bocanegra and Black-burn Rovers' James McEveley, that they would have sidelined anyone. Early in Sunday's match he was the victim of a heavy challenge by City's Joey Barton. Delaney at least tried to labour on until half-time.

"I felt the injury early in the game," he said. "But I played through to half time when we decided it was best not to carry on and risk aggravating the injury.

"I won't know until after the scan but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is not an injury that will keep me out for any period of time. It's too early to tell at the moment but I'm feeling more positive than I was immediately after the game.

"My gut reaction is that this won't be a major setback but I'll have to wait and see what the scan shows."

While Delaney sweats on his future, Villa's other injury-riddled player Patrik Berger is also hoping for better news.

The former Czech Republic international, having travelled to Colorado to be examined by world renowned specialist Richard Steadman, is poised to start his latest comeback in the reserves against Sunderland tomorrow night after almost four months out with a knee injury.