Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given will be out of action for a month, after picking up a hamstring injury against Manchester United at the weekend.
The Republic of Ireland stopper was injured whilst charging out of his box to make a clearance in the 1-0 defeat to the Premier League champions on Saturday, being replaced by Brad Guzan in the loss.
The ex-Newcastle and Manchester City keeper was helped off the Villa Park pitch at the weekend, and Alex McLeish knows the injury is a blow for the Midlands club.
“It is disappointing to lose Shay in such circumstances but, unfortunately, these things happen in football,” he told the club’s official website.
“We have to meet these challenges and we will. We have total faith in Brad who, as I said after the game against Manchester United on Saturday, can be proud of the way he stepped in when Shay had to come off.
“We will need within the football club for everybody to stick together and that strength of unity will help massively,” he concluded.
McLeish is yet to fully win over the Villa supporters, and the misfiring side travel to take on struggling Bolton at the Reebok Stadium next Saturday.
By Gareth McKnight
Football News 24/7
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