New Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is having to plan his start to the season with three key players after Marc Alrighton became the latest player to be struck off.

The born and bred Villa winger could be out for around a month after breaking a metatarsal during pre-season and will certainly miss the opening few games of the Premier League season.

Disappointment of last season has quickly turned to optimism at Villa Park after the arrival of former Norwich boss Lambert, but key injuries could put a holt to any mass transformation.

Albrighton has joined Gabriel Agbonlahor and Richard Dunne in the treatment room after the pair also suffered pre-season injuries that will definitely keep them out of the opening fixture away at West Ham a week today.

However, all three are expected to return at some point in September and Lambert will finally have a fully sit squad to choose from.

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]