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Ritchie De Laet’s mysterious absence from this summer’s pre-season schedule has been revealed.

The 28-year-old, who missed seven months of action last term, has picked up another injury.

But rest-assured - it’s not serious, is in no way related to the knee and hamstring problems of last season, and is just days away from fully healing.

It was a fortnight ago when De Laet broke a bone in his wrist following a training-ground challenge.

As a result he missed the friendlies with Shrewsbury Town and Walsall and also sat out of the Cup of Traditions win in Germany because he was told to avoid any contact.

The right-back’s wrist is now on the mend, though, and he is expected to return to full training next week.

Villa’s opening game of the season against Hull City will come too soon for him as he needs to build up his match fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The positive news is that he was flying in training before the minor setback.

He worked hard at the boot-camp in Portugal where Villa’s first-team trained twice a day and there have been no adverse reactions to the knee injury he sustained last term.

De Laet joined from Leicester City for £2.5million last August but has made just three first-team appearances.

During the recent trip to the Algarve he revealed how he was chomping at the bit and ready to make up for lost time.

“What did I do last season? Two weeks of training and three games? I suppose you could say I am like a new signing in that respect,” he said.

“I’ve made it through those hard months.

“It has taken a lot of patience, a lot of head losses in between as well.

(Image: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

“My family helped me get through it and the rest of the boys too.

“The medical team got me through it, physically and mentally, to where I am now.”

De Laet will compete with Alan Hutton, James Bree and Ahmed Elmohamady for a place at right-back this term.

He is determined to force his way into the first-team and will not be leaving this summer.