Martin O'Neill has revealed Wilfred Bouma hopes to be involved in the end-of-season run-in.

The popular left-back has been absent from first team duty for almost two years, following a dislocated ankle injury and a troublesome toe problem.

But the dynamic Dutch defender is now back in full training and building up his fitness steadily.

And the Villa boss said he would be thrilled to see Bouma back in contention before the campaign concludes.

He said: "Freddie has been out for a fairly lengthy time now. He is slowly but surely getting back to fitness.

"Now he had such a fantastic year for us - the one before he got injured - having played all the league games - and in his mind it's getting back to that level of performance that seems a distance away for him at the moment.

"But it shouldn't really be and I don't think he should concern himself too much about this.

"Before you start talking about a level of performance, you want to be as fit as you possibly can be. And that's it.

"Mental fitness will come with physical fitness. And the physical fitness will come when you have decided you have overcome the injury and it won't bother you again. And I think with a wee bit of luck Freddie has got over that stage.

"I spoke to him two weeks ago - and it is his ambition to be fit for the run-in of the season. And it's really 95 per cent down to Freddie himself."