WILFRED BOUMA suffered a horror injury
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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
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OMG
