Aston Villa to check on the fitness of duo
Aston Villa managerPaul Lambert will check on the condition of both Ron Vlaar and midfielder Joe Cole ahead of tomorrow's trip to Stoke.
Cole has been struggling with a thigh injury while Vlaar is still not up to match fitness following his exploits with Holland in the World Cup.
Lambert has also reported he could have strikers Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak available in "a few weeks" as they step up their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.
Belgium international Benteke has been sidelined since April, when he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in training with Villa that ruled him out of the World Cup and which the club said would require a minimum of six months' recovery time.
Kozak sustained his injury in training with Villa as well, the Czech Republic frontman breaking his leg in January.
Asked for an update on the pair, Lambert said: "I don't put a time limit on it because their two injuries were really bad.
"But Christian has started jogging outside, so he is doing well. Libor is doing great. So a few weeks I think. What will help us certainly will be the international break."
Another long-term absentee, defender Jores Okore, could be in line for his first competitive appearance since September 2013 having recovered from his knee problem.
There could also be comebacks for winger Charles N'Zogbia, out for all of last term with an Achilles injury, as well as defender Alan Hutton and striker Darren Bent.
They have all previously been exiled from the Villa first-team and out on loan, but all four have been involved in pre-season.
And, along with Cole, tomorrow could also see competitive Villa debuts for their three other summer recruits in defenders Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissokho and wide man Kieran Richardson.
Meanwhile, reports have suggested Elche's Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez is set to be the next player to join, but Lambert was giving nothing away.
"The situation is that he is still not our player," Lambert said. "We'll have to see what happens over the next few days or so. There's not really much else to say on that."
"You're never quite sure until someone signs on the dotted line and is in the building."
