By Paul Brown

Martin O'Neill revealed a quartet of Villa stars missed the Valencia pre-season clash through injury.

Gabby Agbonlahor and Carlos Cuellar were both absent because of hamstring injuries, Curtis Davies missed out with a knee problem while James Collins is still struggling with his calf issue first picked up against Walsall.

The manager said: "Gabby has had a stop-start pre-season.

"He's been able to do some training yet when the games have come up it has caused him a bit of a problem.

"He played in the first half in Ireland. He's come off with a bad back.

"He trained this morning and we were hoping he was going to be OK. But he said his hamstrings were sore, which might be a reaction from the back.

"Really, he is very keen to play - there's a possibility of trying to get into the England squad which would be great.

"I think he was disappointed. But when he started about his tight hamstrings today, I took the view to not risk that. Let's see how next week develops. That's the situation with him.

"The prognosis with Curtis is better than first anticipated. It's a shorter time frame, let me put it that way so that's good news.

"We thought at one stage it might be months but I think it's a matter of a couple of weeks.

"He's definitely hyperextended his knee but things are progressing reasonably nicely. That's where he is.

"James, a wee bit like Gabby, has had a stop-start pre-season. He pulled up after a minute at Walsall and came out with us to Portugal. We didn't expect him to play but this is one where we pull him back again and not go in when he's three-quarters fit.

"He's really frustrated because he was looking forward to starting the season well and carrying on from where he stopped off last season. We will take that a bit carefully.

"Carlos went off with a hamstring problem against Benfica. Again, he is anxious to get out and play but that's one of those where you've got to wait and see.

"If you're asking me about the situation concerning the start of the season, I don't know.

"But young [Ciaran] Clark has come in and done very well tonight.

"He has already played a league game - last season - and Richard will travel with the Republic of Ireland and we will see how he and a number of other players will come back next week.

"We will just try and get ready."