Juan Pablo Angel is likely to miss Villa's opening game of the season against Southampton after aggravating a knee injury during the clubs tour of Scandanavia.

The Colombian international striker is to return early from Villa's pre-season tour although manager David O'Leary is confident that last seasons leading goalscorer will not require further surgery on the knee he injured while away on international duty earlier this summer.

"I'd say now that he will miss the Southampton game and that is clearly frustrating for him," O'Leary told the official clubs website.

"Our physios don't think he needs an operation, but he might as well return to England to continue his recovery. If he does need surgery he'll have that done straight away, but I don't think he does.

"It's a blow for us too but he is just not right yet."