Delaney hopes to be right back for Villa
Aston Villa defender Mark Delaney is hoping his injury nightmare is finally behind him as he prepares to battle with Aaron Hughes for the right-back spot in Monday’s Barclays Premiership clash with Manchester City at Eastlands.
Delaney has been one of Villa’s most consistent performers since his arrival from Cardiff City nearly six years ago but the Welsh international has been dogged by recent knee problems.
He underwent further surgery in the summer and, in his absence, new signing Hughes from Newcastle has staked his claim with a number of competent displays.
But Hughes suffered a stiff groin, in a slight reaction to his recent hernia operation, and presented Delaney with the chance to make a comeback in Tuesday’s 1-0 Carling Cup triumph over Burnley and he slotted back in effectively.
Hughes is expected to be fit for the match with Stuart Pearce’s side to leave Villa manager David O’Leary with a welcome selection headache given his crop of injury problems this season.
Delaney said: “Aaron’s groin problem gave me a little opportunity on Tuesday and hopefully I’ve done enough to keep myself in the focus for the team.
“I’d played four reserve games plus an international as well beforehand so had managed to get myself in reasonable shape so if any opportunity comes along, I’d be ready to take it.
“It is a big club and you are going to have competition and the gaffer has brought that in now. I’ve always said that Aaron is a good player and deserved to start at the beginning of the season. He has done very well.
“His groin playing up gave me a chance. All I can do is play and try and do as much as I can.”
Delaney added: “I keep saying it but hopefully the injuries are behind me. I’m getting older and wiser. On a few occasions I’ve been unlucky and on the end of bad tackles and you can’t do much about it.
“Unfortunately for me, when a tackle comes along I seem to get the worst of it so hopefully that’s behind me. I’m 30 next year so hopefully I’m a bit wiser and will try and keep myself out of those situations.
“I am making up for lost time. It is important I get a good run, stay in the team and see where I can go.”
Villa are in the bottom six of the Premiership and Delaney admitted: “We all know we haven’t had the best of starts. We’ve played well on occasions and, when we haven’t been up to the task, we seem to have given goals away so it’s been up and down.
“Manchester City ended last season fantastically and have taken it on to this season and under Stuart Pearce they have done really well, and it is going to be a tough game.
“We are going to have to be on the top of our form but, if we can put in a performance like at Birmingham, we will be alright.”
