Aston Villa: Barry looks for quick return

Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry is targeting the Premiership match at Everton on October 30 for a quickfire comeback from a knee injury after admitting he had feared the worst.

Barry was stretchered off after just six minutes of Saturday's game with Arsenal at Highbury after being caught on the knee by a late challenge from Lauren.

But the former England Under-21 captain was relieved when a scan showed no long-term damage - although the fortnight he will spend on the sidelines is his longest spell out injured in his career.

Barry told PA Sport: "When it initially happened I feared the worst. It was something different to just a normal kick.

Sportinglife

Aston Villa have received a new injury blow with the news that Gareth Barry will be sidelined for two months.

The midfielder was the victim of a bad challenge by Lauren during Villa's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal last weekend and had to leave the field because of a knee injury.

Initial tests suggested the problem was merely bruising and would only keep him out of action for around a fortnight.

However, further tests have revealed ligament damage that will see him sidelined until Christmas.