James Milner is doubtful for Saturday’s clash with Bolton after becoming the latest Villa player to be struck down with flu.

The £12m club record signing was suffering with the bug, which has  also recently sidelined Nigel Reo-Coker and Nicky Shorey, ahead of Sunday’s 3-2 victory at Everton but still managed to play the full 90 minutes.

But Martin O’Neill admitted the right-winger is now laid low by the illness, although the claret and blue chief remains hopeful he will be fit for the weekend visit of the Trotters to Villa Park.

“James Milner played at Everton with real illness,” said O’Neill. “He has a virus – a flu bug that has hit a few people – and did brilliantly to play, but he is pretty washed out at the moment.

“We reckon that hopefully with a few days rest he will be OK.”

Striker John Carew is again certain to miss out with a back problem and it is expected to be another few weeks before Villa know whether the Norway international will require an operation.

O’Neill confirmed he has no other major injury concerns as Villa bid to extend their Premier League unbeaten run to five.

“Obviously we are without John Carew and we have a couple of other niggles, but we are hoping that by Saturday everybody will be alright,” added O’Neill.

“It’s hard to say. That’s normal after a game and we will see how it develops. We are hoping that most of the team will be alright.”