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Charles N’Zogbia is expected to play for Aston Villa again this season after Paul Lambert dismissed suggestions the injured winger’s claret and blue career is over.

N’Zogbia has been out of action since July after rupturing his Achilles heel during a pre-season jog while on holiday in Miami.

There were strong rumours N’Zogbia was no longer in Lambert’s plans after he was given the ‘Bomb Squad’ treatment and stripped of his number.

But Lambert is hopeful the 27-year-old wideman will return to action before the end of the campaign as he steps up his rehabilitation.

N’Zogbia lost his No.10 shirt and was handed No.36 last summer but that has since been given to rookie midfielder Daniel Johnson.

The twice-capped French international is listed without a number on Villa’s official website and not listed at all in the club’s matchday programmes.

It has been made clear that other players with squad numbers in the 30s, including Darren Bent, Alan Hutton, Shay Given, Enda Stevens and Nathan Delfouneso, are surplus to requirement and can leave.

Asked if the number situation with N’Zogbia carried any significance, Lambert replied: “No, you’re looking for something that’s not there.

“The lad’s hurt his Achilles and we’ve got to get him back fit. He’s doing really well.

“You would think he would play before the end of the season, yes, but it’s not nice, that injury. I think his Achilles heel just went and once you get that it’s a major injury.”

N’Zogbia is contracted to Villa until summer 2016, having signed a five-year deal when he arrived from Wigan for £9.5 million in July 2011.

His spell in claret and blue has been largely disappointing, barring fleeting flashes of quality, but Lambert insists he is not ready to write him off.

N’Zogbia has started some light training exercises with Villa’s fitness coaches but is still quite a way away from being match-ready.

With Villa failing to recruit a No.10 style playmaker during last month’s window it seems Lambert is prepared to give N’Zogbia’s creative potential another chance.

“You’re right, when you have those sort of players coming at you, you know you can score,” said Lambert.

“I think I’ve said before, if you damage your Achilles heel, it’s a major injury.

“Sometimes you’re better off having a straight break rather than that injury because it’s a nightmare.

“He’s doing well. He’s just started back with the fitness lads, doing little bits, but his match fitness is not there.

“He’s not really done training or anything. He’s just getting the fitness levels up a little bit.’’

Lambert confirmed N’Zogbia sustained the serious injury during an innocuous exercise session in the States as he tried to get in shape ahead of returning to Bodymoor Heath last summer.

“I think he did it on a jog,” added Lambert. “He was running. I think every player does that in pre-season.

“They go out for a jog just to get going again and maybe your legs just aren’t as good as what they were during the season. It can happen that, from a really simple jog you can hurt yourself.

“That’s it, I just need to get him fit.”