Fabian Delph ruled out until 2015

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has revealed that Fabian Delph will likely be absent until 2015.

The England midfielder was initially ruled out until December after suffering a shoulder injury in a training ground fall earlier this month.

He has since undergone successful surgery for the issue, but Lambert is not expecting the 24-year-old back "for a few months".

"Delph has had his operation, it went well and everything is on course," he told Sky Sports News. "It's just a matter of getting him to do his rehab and getting him fit.

"I don't think you can put a timescale on it but he will be out for a few months. It's not a complicated injury, it's straightforward.

"Everything went fine and it is now a case of getting him back."

Delph has started seven of the Villans' eight Premier League outings prior to his injury.