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Fabian Delph has rocked Aston Villa with a “nightmare” shoulder injury in training which may need surgery.

Villa boss Paul Lambert confirmed the England midfielder is being sent for scans to determine the damage.

The in-form star is set to miss the trip to Everton and could be out up to a month if dislocated as feared.

Lambert said: “It was here on Tuesday, he had an awkward fall.

“No one was near him. He fell on his shoulder. It is not always straightforward so we need to go and get it checked out.

“We will need to monitor it and see what the best solution is.

“Whether it is enough to allow it to rest for a couple of weeks I don’t know or if there is more to it.

“It is a nightmare for him, he can’t train at the moment.

“Will he need surgery? That’s the thing, we don’t know. That will be left up to the medical people to see what is the best procedure for it.”

Villa skipper Ron Vlaar is finally over a calf injury which has sidelined him since August.

He will replace Philippe Senderos, who got injured on international duty with Switzerland.

(Image: Laurence Griffiths)

Lambert confirmed Villa are still no closer to tying down Delph and Vlaar, whose contracts expire next summer.

The Villa boss travelled to USA in the international break for a summit with owner Randy Lerner to discuss spending.

But Delph and Vlaar are both still considering their options and their agents remain in talks with the club.

Meanwhile Lambert stuck up for his out-spoken assistant Roy Keane, insisting he was enjoying working with him since recruiting him in the summer and had no fears about him quitting Villa to concentrate on Ireland.

He said: “I have always found him really good. Maybe that’s because our own playing careers have been pretty similar when you look at it.

“He was my first port of call when I wanted an assistant and thankfully he took it.”

Lambert also supported Keane’s blast at Jose Mourinho who tried to shake their hands before the final whistle when Chelsea won at Villa last month.

(Image: David Rogers)

The Scot added: “My stance is the same as Roy’s. It was wrong. I’ve not been brought up that way. It was disrespectful and I don’t agree with it.

“I knew it was going to happen. I said to Roy at half-time that it was. The guy is a great manager but that was wrong.

“I knew there was bad blood because of the game at Villa Park last year. My gut feeling told me that would happen.

“I don’t agree with it and I think it was wrong.”