Aston Villa's beloved/maligned/insert own adjective here captain doesn't need surgery to repair the ligament damage in his knee, but the club still anticipate that he will be out eight to twelve weeks. It seems almost inconceivable that Villa don't pick up a central midfielder in the January transfer window--but will they have enough money for both that and a striker? It seems as though Gabby Agbonlahor is never coming back, and Gerard Houllier is reluctant to use the young Nathan Delfouneso.

In other injury news, according to the Telegraph, Luke Young is set to return, but at the expense of Habib Beye, who has an ankle knock. Raise your hands if you care if Villa replaces Beye with Young? Raise your hands if you care if Houllier uses one of the club shop's gnomes in place of Beye at right back? I think we're all on the same page here.

More Second City Derby news coming your way later today.