COOLED HEELS BOUMA.

Byline: MAT KENDRICK

WHEN it comes to Dutch courage, I'll have a large glass of whatever Wilfred Bouma's having.

A stubbed toe doesn't sound like the most serious ache or pain that anybody has had to contend with. But when it occurs 16 months into injury-enforced exile it can only spell further frustration for the Villa and Holland defender.

The sore toe comes hot on the heels of A repeatedly aborted comeback from a severely dislocated ankle sustained in July last year against Odense.

So, for Bouma to bravely battle on for a first-team return is a credit to his desire and determination, especially with the popular player also having family problems.

It can't be easy for a 31-year-old footballer to keep picking himself up from all these injury disappointments and going again with a positive approach.

Bouma has had more breakdowns to deal with than a stressed RAC recovery man, more knockbacks than Iain Dowie out on the pull and more false dawns than a Vicar of Dibley lookalike contest.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists the latest problem is only a minor issue and that the full-back is making promising progress.

The former PSV Eindhoven left-footer reacted angrily to reports in a national newspaper this year that his career was over, insisting premature reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated.

This Dutch courage comes in the form of spirit and bottle. Let's hope Bouma's faith that he still has a future in professional football is fully justified.

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SETBACK: Wilfred Bouma can't be easy for a