Ollie Determined To Avoid Op

Olof Mellberg aims to boot a persistent Achilles problem into touch without missing a single Premiership outing for Villa.

And, after pulling out of Sweden・s midweek friendly clash with the Czech Republic, Villa・s inspirational defender is determined to step-up his bid for full fitness.

Mellberg, Villa skipper at The Hawthorns yesterday, has turned to specially adapted insoles in a new pair of boots in a bid to avoid surgery.

He revealed: ：I・m playing with insoles in my boots and I・m having a look at different footwear, trying different boots to see if that might help.

：If I wasn・t a footballer, the perfect thing would normally be to rest for four or five weeks. But we・re going to have to try and build it up while I・m playing.

：Fingers crossed I won・t need an operation. We・re treating it properly every day, building it up and stretching. I・m doing as much strength work as I can without pain.

：I don・t know how long it can go on, I・m not an expert. There have been people playing with these pains and wearing the proper footwear and it has got better without injections or operations, so we・ll wait and see.；

As revealed earlier this week, Mellberg is putting club before country in a bid to speed-up his recovery. And he has no doubts he is doing the right thing.

He concluded: ：I talked to the national coaches and it wasn・t really a difficult decision. It・s a friendly and I have been resting here, not for games, but from many training sessions during the last few weeks.；