Curtis Davies' hopes of finally forcing his way into the Aston Villa side for the forthcoming festive programme have suffered an injury setback.
The former West Brom player sustained a broken nose in training at the club's Bodymoor Heath complex on Friday. Davies had been earmarked to be on the substitutes' bench for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash at Sunderland but did not travel to the Stadium of Light.
Central defender Davies has still to start a league game for Villa since his loan move from The Hawthorns in August in a deal which will become permanent next summer.
The former England Under-21 player admitted he performed like "a pub player" when making his first start for Villa in the home Carling Cup clash with Leicester in late September. But Villa boss Martin O'Neill has admitted Davies is "getting closer" to a senior breakthrough after impressive performances in the reserves.
Meanwhile, O'Neill has talks planned with another defender in Martin Laursen regarding a new contract. The Denmark international's current four-year deal runs out next summer and he can sign a pre-contract with a foreign club in January.
O'Neill said: "There are talks scheduled for the not-too-distant future with Martin."
Reports in Italy continue to indicate Olof Mellberg is poised to sign a pre-contract with Juventus. The Sweden international, who has been operating as a makeshift right-back, will also become a free agent next summer.
But O'Neill insisted: "Olof has not told me he has agreed to go to Italy."
Mellberg's apparent desire to move may be influenced by the fact O'Neill is poised to renew his interest next month in Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa - a player he tracked before the transfer window closed on August 31.
