Martin O'Neill is optimistic Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey will be fit sooner rather than later after suffering a recurrence of a back problem.

Heskey sustained the injury in the defeat at West Ham last Wednesday and has not recovered in time to be part of the England squad taking on Brazil in Doha this weekend.

He has had to ensure a series of injury niggles since his £3.5million switch from Wigan in January to be reunited with O'Neill.

But O'Neill is confident the latest setback will not mean a lengthy spell on the side-lines.
O'Neill said: "It's not a serious problem which will keep Emile out for weeks.

"I know Emile from the past, he's had an ongoing back problem throughout his time. It comes up now and again and it gets very stiff and it obstructs him.

"But overall it's not a monumentally difficult thing and we're trying to get to the bottom of it."

O'Neill is also hoping central defender James Collins will recover quickly after undergoing a scan on the groin injury he also picked up at Upton Park and will force him to miss Wales' weekend clash with Scotland.

The Villa boss said: "It's a groin strain. James saw the game through against West Ham but he was struggling in the last 20-25 minutes of the match.

"He had a scan taken that showed up something and we're hoping that the rest will do him the world of good."