Jermaine Jenas KO will spark McLeish shopping

Alex McLeish today made a new central midfielder Villa's priority in the transfer window after it emerged Jermaine Jenas is set to undergo surgery on an Achilles injury.

[gallery]

Alex McLeish today made a new central midfielder Villa's priority in the transfer window after it emerged Jermaine Jenas is set to undergo surgery on an Achilles injury.

The on-loan Tottenham midfielder was stretchered off after an awkward stumble during Villa's 1-0 loss to Manchester United at the weekend and left the ground on crutches.

Jenas has returned to White Hart Lane to undergo treatment by his parent club. Given the rehabilitation time for an injury of this nature – and the problems Jenas has had in the past – it does not seem likely that the 28-year-old will return to Villa this season.

"It's a shame; it's really bad luck on Jermaine, especially for rupturing his Achilles. He's going to get an operation," said McLeish.

"It's a similar situation to what happened with Jean Makoun. He had to come back here and see us. He got a medial ligament injury so he's going to be out for about two months. It must be hellish for Jermaine."

It has left McLeish short on central midfield options and the Villa boss will now turn his attention towards finding another player.

McLeish is thought to be eager to bring someone in on a permanent basis and will try to persuade owner Randy Lerner to loosen the purse strings in January.

"We will keep assessing what's happening out there," added McLeish.

"Again as I keep saying we've got to trade carefully but I know Randy and Paul are right behind us if there's an opportunity for us to do something."