Barry's return to Villa goes all wrong and he ends up on the treatment table

The midfielder picked up a foot injury, killing off any hopes he had of making a shock re-appearance for Villa in this weekend’s Intertoto Cup tie with Odense BK. Villa boss Martin O’Neill had already left Barry sweating following his 17-day absence.

Barry: First day back at Villa

The Irishman only returned from a pre-season defeat to Lincoln City in the early hours and left his assistants John Robertson and Steve Walford to take charge of training.

After lunch O’Neill was involved in tying up the capture of veteran Brad Friedel from Blackburn in a £2.5m deal.

He was leaving a decision on Barry’s involvement until the last moment but now that has been taken out of his hands by the knock.

It is not supposed to be serious but nevertheless sufficient to rule the midfielder out of first-team action until next week.