Ollie Puts Villa First

Olof Mellberg will put club before country next week ¡V with the full backing of the Swedish FA.

Villa¡¦s inspirational defender has withdrawn from next Wednesday¡¦s friendly international against The Czech Republic, preferring to rest a niggling Achilles injury.

Mellberg will still play for Villa at West Brom on Saturday, but has opted not to join team-mate Marcus Allback in Teplice next week.

A Villa spokesman said¡§This was Ollie¡¦s decision. He has been carrying an Achilles injury and feels it¡¦s the right time to rest. Because next week¡¦s game is a friendly, the Swedish FA were more than happy to release him.¡¨

Mellberg has been outstanding at the heart of Villa¡¦s defence this term, despite the fact that he has been carrying the Achilles injury.

Recent reports suggested that he would need surgery to overcome the problem, but Vila remain confident that rest will do the trick.