Andreas Weimann back in running for Aston Villa

Andreas Weimann today set his sights on returning for Villa for the start of the season.

The 20-year-old Austrian striker starts running on Monday as he steps up his recovery from damaged medial knee ligaments sustained in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham on May 6.

And the youngster, whose strike against Stoke was Villa's goal of the season, believes he will be in contention for the big kick-off at West Ham on August 18.

"They said it would be eight weeks which would take it to a week before the start of pre-season so if everything goes well, hopefully I should be fit," said Weimann, who has been busy watching the Euros and said Fernando Torres was his favourite player.

"At the moment it feels perfect and I start running on Monday.

"I'll probably know more when I start running but I've been working on the bike and the cross-trainer and haven't felt anything so I'm hopeful everything will be fine.

"I started training last Monday and at the moment it's just been bikework and swimming which is a great way to get your muscles working again."

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