Jermaine Jenas out for two weeks

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed that Jermaine Jenas will be out of action for a fortnight.

The midfielder, who joined Villa on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur last week, sustained a thigh injury during training in the build up to yesterday's 2-2 draw away at Everton.

The complaint forced the 28-year-old to miss the match at Goodison Park and McLeish has now revealed that he will not make his debut until late September.

"He got a kicking strain and there was no way we were risking him," McLeish told the Sunday Mercury. "I think he was a bit over-zealous. He really pushed himself in training.

"He may have even felt it a couple of days ago but decided to come and train such was his keenness to be involved.

"You can't knock a player for that. I hope it doesn't set him back too long and he'll be back with us within a couple of weeks because we need that competition in the centre."

Jenas signed for Spurs in 2005 from Newcastle United.