Gabby Agbonlahor out for longer

Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor will also miss next weekend's trip to Sunderland.

Agbonlahor, already ruled out of today's game with Chelsea, is expected to return to training next week after undergoing minor groin surgery but boss Gerard Houllier revealed the visit to the Stadium of Light will come too soon.

"He is definitely ruled out this weekend," said Houllier.

"To be honest, I don't think he will be able to play against Sunderland.

"There have not been complications, it is just some people react differently to operations.

"I think next week he will start training. He has started jogging but I am hopeful that, after Sunderland, he may be able to join the squad.

"He has been in and out. You could manage it and maybe have injections but it was a minor operation."

Houllier confirmed long-term absentee Fabian Delph is another two months away from a return, with highly-rated youngster Gary Gardner likely to come back at around the same time.

And the Villa boss has backed Curtis Davies' decision to join Leicester on a month's loan.

He added: "I think Curtis took the right decision.

"It's good, that means he wants to play.

"We have many games but at the moment we have Richard (Dunne), James (Collins), Habib (Beye), who can play in the centre, Carlos (Cuellar) and Ciaran Clark."

Meanwhile, Villa limber up for today's clash against an injury-hit Chelsea with Gerard Houllier insisting Emile Heskey is the claret and blues' Didier Drogba.

As it turns out, fever victim Drogba is one of a host of Blues stars who will miss the late kick-off with Frank Lampard, Alex, Yossi Benayoun, Daniel Sturridge and Salomon Kalou also ruled out.

The Villa manager said: "In terms of skill, he does things in training which amaze you. Emile sometimes forgets how good he can be.

"Emile has got some attributes that look like Didier but he doesn't seem to use them. When he uses them, he is the forward you have seen in the last few games."

By Brendan McLoughlin