Lengthy absence for Davies March 03 2008
Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has undergone surgery after suffering a ruptured Achilles during Saturday's clash with Arsenal.
The 22-year-old centre-back went under the knife in London on Saturday evening only hours after sustaining the setback during the first half of the 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
The youngster, who is on a season-long loan at Villa Park from West Brom, will return to the midlands later on Monday and faces several months of recuperation and rehabilitation.
Sources close to Villa indicate it will be "around six to seven months" before Davies fully recovers from the setback which means it could be October before he can contemplate playing again.
Davies told the Villans' official website: "The operation went ahead on Saturday evening and the surgeon said it went very well.
"Obviously there's a little bit of soreness there now and I'll just have to rest it up and let everything settle down."
The timing of the injury could not be worse for Davies as he was named in England coach Fabio Capello's initial squad for last month's friendly international with Switzerland at Wembley.
Zat Knight is now in line to replace Davies for the final two months of the campaign. Knight played a key part during the first half of the season but lost his place to Davies in late December after having to serve a one-match suspension.