Warnock Missing For Carling Cup Showpiece?

Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock could be a doubt for the Carling Cup final after being advised to rest his shin problem for at least a further fortnight.

Warnock has missed Villa's last two Barclays Premier League games with Arsenal and Fulham after being substituted early in the second half of the FA Cup clash with Brighton on January 23.

Now he will have to rest up for a further two weeks, after seeing a specialist, before a further assessment is made.

Villa will meet Manchester United in the final at Wembley on February 28 - barely a week after Warnock is checked out again.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "Stephen will have to rest for a while. We will have a look and see how he is in a couple of weeks. That is what the specialist has said.

"We will have to see if it will settle down. Obviously, he's desperate to be playing. It's disappointing because he's been brilliant for us."

Source: PA