Warnock a doubt for Pompey trip

Wounded Villa warrior Stephen Warnock has emerged as a doubt for Sunday's trip to Portsmouth.

The left-back picked up a knock as a result of a last-ditch sliding tackle to dispossess Leon Osman in the second-half of last night's 2-2 draw with Everton and was eventually replaced by Nathan Delfouneso after 77 minutes.

Warnock will be assessed at the club's Bodymoor Heath HQ today and manager Martin O'Neill has his fingers crossed for good news with the Premier League trip to the south-coast just three days away.

The Villa boss said: "Steven is pretty sore at the moment. We're hoping we'll have better news later today. At this minute, he's feeling a wee bit better than he was.

"I spoke to him to ask how he was and he's got enough bruises from the last number of matches that I wasn't able to pinpoint exactly which one it was!

"He is a great old warrior."

Warnock has regularly found himself in the wars this season, often picking up knocks as a result of gutsy challenges.

But Villa are optimistic over his chances, however Luke Young is on standby to replace the England international if needed.