Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has told Wilfred Bouma not to rush himself back to fitness as he is already assured of a new deal at the club.The horror injury Bouma suffered during Villa's Intertoto Cup triumph over Odense BK on Saturday has put a dampener on their qualification for the UEFA Cup.

Bouma is now facing several months on the sidelines following a collision with Baye Djiby Faye that left him with a horribly dislocated ankle.

Skipper Nigel Reo-Coker was in tears when he saw the severity of the incident and Martin Laursen admitted he was equally moved.

"I have never seen any injury like that before," he said.

"Wilfred was screaming and when you see someone of his character scream like that, you know he is in a lot of pain.

"It looked pretty bad and we know he will be out for some months but at least the skin was not broken, otherwise it could have been even worse."

Having played all 38 Premier League matches for Villa last season, Bouma will be difficult to replace.

Gareth Barry took the responsibility this weekend, although O'Neill confirmed he will now look for a replacement.

"We were looking around anyway given the workload we have, so that search will continue," said the Ulsterman.

O'Neill has also assured Bouma, who is in the final year of his contract, that he will almost certainly get a new deal, with no timescale being put on his recovery.

"He should not rush back - it is not a problem," said O'Neill.

Barry would be the obvious short-term replacement at full-back and there is a growing feeling he could be around to fill the void as Liverpool continue to ponder whether to meet Villa's £18million asking price.

The reception Barry received on Saturday must have at least assured him that there will be no ill-feeling should he decide to stay, which is definitely the outcome Laursen is hoping for.

"I don't think it is certain Gareth will go," continued Laursen.

"When you have the possibility of going to a Champions League club then you have to think about it. But I am sure he is happy here. He is very popular and the fans like him.

"I don't know what he wants but we hope he stays because he is so important to the team."

The reception Barry received was a surprise given the abuse he took at Walsall in midweek.

But Laursen does not believe too much should be read into that negative response, feeling it was very much a one-off.

"The fans love this club, so they have mixed feelings because Gareth is one of our best players and the fans want to keep the best players," he added.

"You can understand that but the fans must also know how much he has done for the club.

"He has been here for 10 years and been our captain. They will remember that as well."

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