Lambert’s defensive problems go from bad to worse.Check in to Norwich City vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa new boy Jores Okore is set to miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his side’s clash against Newcastle United on Saturday, talkSPORT reports.
The 21-year-old, who only joined up with Paul Lambert’s men over the summer in a £4m deal from Danish club Nordsjælland had to limp off midway through the second half of the defeat to Newcastle and scans have confirmed that he will need to be out for the next nine months whilst the knee heals.
A statement on the club’s website said: “Following clinical examination and the results of an MRI scan, the Club can confirm that Jores Okore sustained a in his right knee in the game against Newcastle on Saturday.
“Jores will undergo surgery in due course and he could be sidelined for a period of up to nine months.”
Okore’s absence will come as bad news for Paul Lambert, who has had defensive issues for a number of reasons already this season.
The club have failed to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League since November 2012’s goalless draw with Stoke City as they continue to look naive at the back.
Furthermore, continued injuries to both Cairan Clarke and Nathan Baker have threatened to leave them short in the centre of defence, with just Ron Vlaar the only one to not have been forced off during a game this season.