Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has stressed that striker Emile Heskey has not seriously injured his back and should be back in action within weeks rather than months. The England international suffered the fitness setback during his side’s defeat at West Ham United and has since withdrawn from Fabio Capello’s squad to face Brazil in Qatar.
"It's not a serious problem which will keep Emile out for weeks," O'Neill is quoted by the Press Association as saying.
"I know Emile from the past [at Leicester City], he's had an ongoing back problem throughout his time.
"It comes up now and again and it gets very stiff and it obstructs him.
"But overall it's not a monumentally difficult thing and we're trying to get to the bottom of it."