Villa captain Ron Vlaar could miss QPR trip

The Dutch centre-back sat out Villa's 1-0 win over Reading after he limped out in the second half of the previous match against Arsenal.

Manager Paul Lambert confirmed that the 27-year-old defender has had a scan on the injury and is doubtful for the trip to Loftus Road.

Before the Reading game, Vlaar had been an ever-present at the heart of the Villa defence and admitted he is keen to be back in action sooner rather than later.

He said: "Hopefully, the damage isn't too extensive and I won't be missing for too long. I felt the calf in the first-half against Arsenal and it became steadily worse.

"By early in the second half it was really stiff so there was no option but to come off. To have continued playing would simply have made things worse.

"It was a massive blow for me that I wasn't able to take any further part in the game.

"But I have to say Matt Lowton did an excellent job when he moved inside to take over from me and Eric Lichaj also did well at right-back."

Vlaar also urged his team-mates to build on their last two results when they take on QPR, who are bottom of the table with five points.

But the Dutchman also claimed the recent appointment of Harry Redknapp as manager will have done much to lift the mood of their opponents.

He said: "Queens Park Rangers are bound to be lifted by the appointment of Harry Redknapp as their new manager.

"The arrival of a new boss brings an added enthusiasm to a team and there's no doubt that QPR will be motivated by the new man.

"People expected him to be England manager before Roy Hodgson was appointed. Even so, we have to believe in ourselves.

"If we continue to produce display like we have done, I'm convinced we will have an upturn in fortunes before too long."