Aston Villa midfielder Craig Gardner is facing three weeks on the sidelines after straining his thigh on England Under-21 duty in midweek.Gardner suffered the setback during the first half of England Under-21s' friendly international with Poland at Molineux on Tuesday.

He has been filling in primarily as an emergency right-back for Villa in the absence of Olof Mellberg, who is available again for Saturday's Premier League match away to leaders Manchester United.

Martin O'Neill will continue to pick Mellberg, who will end a seven-year association with Villa in the summer when he moves to Juventus on a three-year contract.

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