Villa manager Gerard Houllier is today recovering in hospital after being taken ill last night and is expected to miss the club’s game with Stoke at the weekend.

It’s not known at this stage whether it is a recurrence of the heart problems he suffered in October 2001 while in charge of Liverpool.

Houllier’s situation is described as “comfortable” and he has already spoken on the telephone to chief executive Paul Faulkner and assistant manager Gary McAllister from his bed at the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth II hospital.

Former Coventry and Leeds boss McAllister has taken charge of senior training at Bodymoor Heath this morning.

Houllier is likely to miss the claret and blues’ Premier League match against Stoke at Villa Park on Saturday, with McAllister set to step into the breach.

The manager did not show any signs of ill health when he spoke to the local media during the week, having attended Villa’s reserve team game against Albion on Tuesday.

But the 63-year-old has a history of heart problems having been rushed to hospital at half-time during Liverpool’s game with Leeds at Anfield in October 2001, after complaining of chest pains.

He underwent a 10-hour operation after suffering a condition known as an acute dissection of the aorta at Liverpool’s Cardiothoracic Centre.

Houllier subsequently made an emotional return to management duties five months later for Liverpool’s Champions League victory over Roma and subsequently led the club to a second-placed finish in the Premier League.

The Frenchman has endured a testing first season at Villa Park having been appointed Martin O’Neill’s permanent successor last September.

Villa have struggled towards the bottom of the table for large parts of the campaign having had a stop-start season.

Houllier has also faced the additional stress of a number of off-the-pitch problems, including a bust-up involving a Richard Dunne and James Collins at club team-bonding exercise at Leicestershire health spa.

But following a draw against Everton and successive victories over Newcastle and West Ham in their last three games, the club have effectively secured their top-flight status for another season.

Villa will make an official statement on Houllier’s health later today, with the club expected to confirm that McAllister will be in charge.