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Libor Kozak could be out until the new year after suffering yet another devastating blow – but star striker Christian Benteke is ready to play a part in tomorrow’s clash with champions Manchester City.

The Czech Republic forward had almost recovered from a broken leg until in training this week he was struck down with a recurrence of his long-term injury.

Kozak had spent eight months on the sidelines and is now unlikely to feature for Aston Villa again until 2015.

While manager Paul Lambert was delighted about Benteke’s imminent return, he admitted that Kozak’s latest injury was cruel.

“It’s a nightmare,” he said.

“They (the medics) had to go back into his leg and put a little pin in it.

“I haven’t spoken to the doctor about (the length of time that he will be out) but it’s going to be a while.

“It’s a setback for him.”

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In January Kozak broke his leg at Bodymoor Heath and it was on the practice fields where his latest setback occurred.

Lambert said the 25-year-old’s previous injury had not healed properly and that, as a result, a lengthy spell in the treatment room is in store.

The cruel blow will be even harder for the former Lazio man to take as he was so optimistic about his return.

He was running with a ball at his feet and had a realistic target of featuring for the first-team this month,

The bad times, he thought, were well behind him and the pain of his first long-term injury was almost over.

Now, however, there’s a serious worry that he might go through 2014 without playing a single minute of competitive action.

Lambert said: “I spoke to him about his injury and he felt a bit down which is understandable because he’d worked so hard to get back.

“He wasn’t too far away.

“He was running and doing everything. It’s a blow for him and blow for us.

“When he came here his goal ratio was very good.

“He’s just been unfortunate that he’s suffered this setback.”

The good news for Lambert is that Benteke is back and looking sharp.

On Monday he scored for Villa’s U21s on his return and is expected to feature tomorrow.

It means that the claret and blues will finally have a natural No.9 to turn to.

“He’ll be in the squad,” Lambert said.

“He’s been very upbeat.

“You’ve got to remember it’s five months not playing at all, he’s been back training for three weeks, he seems in a really good place at the minute so I’ll see how he is tomorrow.

“When he did his Achilles I knew it was a major one.

“It wasn’t just that, though, it was losing Kozak as well with a broken leg.

“Losing Benteke as well, you’ve lost two strikers, your No9s that are out, so that was the problem.

“The start we’ve made has been really good but we’ve done it without a No9.

“Now Benteke is coming back, we are getting there.”

When the big man is ready for action, Lambert will throw him in without any fear.

“I’ll let him go when he’s out there. He deserves it.

“When he’s out there he’s got to go and do it.

“The main thing for me was his legs, lung wise and that, lack of games he will get there.

“His injury was the most important thing and he’s recovered from that.”