BOUMA ANKLE AGONY
WILFRED BOUMA suffered a horror injury — and that marred
the fact Villa have booked their place in the UEFA Cup
qualifiers.
Ashley Young fired home a sensational rocket shot early in the
second half to dump Danish side Odense. But it was Bouma’s
dislocated ankle — after an innocuous-looking clash with Odense
striker Baye Djiby Fall — that took the gloss off this Intertoto
Cup third-round, second-leg clash.
Dutch defender Bouma screamed in agony at the tackle and was
down for three minutes, receiving oxygen on the pitch before being
carried off.
Fall wheeled away in shock when he saw the injury, while Villa
star Craig Gardener looked distraught. Bouma was taken to
Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital — the same casualty unit that
treated Arsenal hitman Eduardo in February — with Villa doc Roddy
McDonald and had his ankle put in plaster.
The injury leaves boss Martin O’Neill without a recognised
full-back — just three weeks before the start of the season.
“The pictures are not so good and you could see the reaction of
the other players. “Wilfred had a brilliant season for us last
season and he’s got good strength of character. But if anyone can
come through it, I’m sure he will.
“However, we have serious work to do with getting players in.”
This victory ended a seven-year wait for European football for
Villa fans.
Aston Villa 1, Odense 0. Villa win 3-2 on
agg
