Aston Villa: Cole in as Vassell breaks ankle

Carlton Cole is poised for an extended run up front for Aston Villa after Darius Vassell broke his ankle in Saturday's Premiership clash with Fulham.

Cole, who is on loan from Chelsea, and Juan Pablo Angel are the only two senior strikers at manager David O'Leary's disposal for the Carling Cup trip to Burnley.

O'Leary admitted central defender Liam Ridgewell is pushing hard to be given a first team run-out against the Coca-Cola Championship side after three months out with knee ligament damage.

But O'Leary is likely to field a near full-strength side and his small squad gives him little option to rest players.

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Darius Vassell has vowed to bounce back from his broken ankle and insisted: I can still salvage something from this season.

The Aston Villa and England striker is facing three months on the sidelines after suffering the injury during Saturday's Premiership clash with Fulham.

But Vassell has shown in the past he can recover from adversity, having twice broken his leg at Villa being going on to force his way into the England squad in 2002 and been a squads regular ever since.

He said: I have broken my leg twice playing for Villa and both times got back playing better and stronger and I'll be looking to do the same again.

I can still salvage the end of the season if I get back by the end of January so it's not too bad.

I think it's six weeks in plaster and then after those six weeks it will be another six weeks of rehabilitation.

Darius Vassell hopes to be back in action for Aston Villa in January despite breaking his ankle during last weekend's 2-0 win against Fulham.

The 24-year-old battled back from two broken legs during the early stages of his career to establish himself as a regular in the England squad and is confident he will make a swift recovery from his latest setback.