The Colombian striker, who scored 23 goals last season, will be sidelined for two weeks after tests showed he had twisted his ankle in a training session prior to last weekend's game against Middlesbrough. In his absence, David O’Leary switched to playing with a lone striker against the gnomic Steve McClaren’s side and Villa eased to a 2-0 win.
But Birmingham City are unlikely to put up such insipid resistance at St Andrews a week on Saturday, and Angel’s absence will be sorely missed. With Carlton Cole out with a knee injury and Darius Vassell just back from a five-month layoff, Tubbs’ only fully fit striker is Luke Moore.