The Danish defender has endured a turbulent 12 months since joining from AC Milan last summer, with injury restricting him to just 12 league games. Laursen, who will be 28 on Tuesday, is set to have a scan but according to David O'Leary: "He is looking very doubtful for the start of the season." The news is a blow for Villa fans hoping to see the player forge a centre-back partnership with captain Olof Mellberg but it could be worse, Mark Delaney could be fit to sidle into the middle.
Latest news: Delaney will be available for the start of the new season. The Welsh defender returned from Villa's pre-season tour of Sweden for a scan on a knee injury last week but O’Leary has revealed he is not concerned. "Going by the medical people, Mark will be out for a week or maybe 10 days, but there is nothing there to concern us," the Irishman said. Surely only the receipt of Noel Edmond’s wardrobe could make us happier.