English Premier League news: Aston Villa’s Marc Albrighton, Sunderland’s Titus Bramble out of action
Aston Villa and Sunderland FC have been hit with injury setbacks to Marc Albrighton and Titus Bramble, respectively.
Albrighton, who has been in remarkable form in the past weeks, is expected to miss Villa’s next 3 English Premier League clashes against Arsenal, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion. The midfielder is thought to be suffering from
appendicitis, and will be out of action for at least 3 weeks.
Marc, who recently signed a new deal with Aston Villa, has scored 3 goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season; his latest strike was in a 2-2 home draw against Manchester United.
Albrighton will also sit out the Second City Derby against rivals Birmingham City, in the Carling Cup quarterfinal tie at St. Andrew’s.
Injury to the 21-year-old adds to the crisis manager Gerard Houllier is already facing; the Frenchman is without 10 1st team players including Emile Heskey, Steve Sidwell, Stiliyan Petrov and John Carew.
Meanwhile, Sunderland FC’s central defender Titus Bramble has suffered a knee injury. If the cure to the problem involves an operation, it would sideline him for up to 8 weeks.
The former Newcastle United player damaged a meniscus cartilage during Sunderland’s heroic 3-0 victory at Chelsea the previous weekend. Bramble missed his side’s 2-2 home draw against Everton on Monday night, in which Anton Ferdinand
stood in his position.
Manager Steve Bruce looked concerned over his player’s injury. He said, “It doesn't look good. He tweaked it against Chelsea last week and he hasn't been able to train all week. He will try again, but we have had scans and it does
look as if he might need an operation which will rule him out for the best part of six, eight weeks.”
Sunderland have kept 6 clean sheets in 14 matches in the English Premier League this season, and Bruce acknowledged Titus’s contribution in their defensive success.
He added, “One of the reasons we have kept so many clean sheets has been the performances of Titus. That would be a big, big loss because he has been immense.”
Bramble moved to the Stadium of Light as a result of a deal worth £1 million from Wigan Athletic during the summer. The defender, who had an unsuccessful spell at Newcastle United, has proved to be a big hit under the watchful
eyes of Steve Bruce.
Titus has been a consistent figure in the Black Cats’ defence, and has featured in 12 out of 14 Premier League matches for them.
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