Aston Villa: Samuel to undergo scan

Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel has undergone a scan to determine the extent of the shoulder injury suffered during Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat Burnley.

Samuel was forced out of action after 61-minutes of Villa's 3-1 defeat and is already rated doubtful for Saturday's away Premiership meeting with Everton.

The 23-year-old has a remarkable record of having played every minute of 56 successive matches since David O'Leary took charge of Villa 17 months ago.

But that record is now under threat although Samuel is understood to have suffered soft tissue rather than ligament damage. Nothing will be confirmed until the results of the scan are received on Thursday.

Sportinglife

Aston Villa boss David O'Leary has been boosted by the news that Jlloyd Samuel's shoulder injury is not as serious as originally feared.

The full-back was forced to leave the field during the second half of Villa's Carling Cup defeat at Burnley on Tuesday amid fears he would be out for three weeks.

However, a scan on the injury revealed it was merely heavy bruising and he could be fit to face Everton on Saturday.