Boss backs Carew for quick return; VILLA NEWS.

MARTIN O'Neill remains confident John Carew will soon regain fitness - and without the need for surgery.

Carew has started just two of nine matches since complaining of fatigue before the UEFA Cup tie with Ajax which then saw him break a late-night curfew.

He then had hip and thigh problems which developed into a related back problem.

But the Villa boss harbors hopes of a swift return after the club sought medical advice.

"He will still be struggling for a while but I would be hoping that the treatment that we have for Carew would work," O'Neill said.

"I am hoping that he will be back sooner rather than later.

"It's a back injury but it relates to the others (thigh and hip).

"It is something that has come up. I'm no medical expert but he went to see a specialist.

"As for surgery, that is not something that we would want to be contemplating at the moment."

With Carew unavailable against Zilina tomorrow night the door is open for Marlon Harewood to shine.

Harewood has not started since the tie with Litex Lovech two months ago when he scored a cracker.

As well as Harewood, Moustapha Salifou, Nicky Shorey and Brad Guzan are all definite starters tomorrow night.

Zat Knight and Craig Gardner must also be considered probabilities while Nathan Delfouneso will also come into contention at some stage.

"It would be fair to say there will be changes, but as is always the case there has to be a balance," O'Neill said.

"It is a very important game but by the same token we have the Everton game to also consider, which is also really important."