Villa rocked by McCann blow
Friday, January 14, 2005
Article summary
Aston Villa FC midfield player Gavin McCann could miss the rest of the season after a cartilage operation.
Article body
Aston Villa FC could be deprived of the services of Gavin McCann for the rest of the season after the former English international underwent knee surgery earlier this week.
Persistent injury
The combative midfield player had been dogged by a knee problem for the past few months but played on regardless until he limped off during Villa's FA Cup defeat by Sheffield United FC last Saturday. He had an operation to repair a torn cartilage on Monday - his 27th birthday - and manager David O'Leary now fears McCann's season could be over.
Key figure
"The operation went very well," O'Leary told the club's website, "but I would be surprised if we see him again this season." The former Sunderland AFC player, whose sole England cap came against Spain in coach Sven-Göran Eriksson's first game in charge in February 2001, has been a key figure for Villa since moving to Birmingham in June 2003 and helped the side finish sixth in the Premiership last term.
