Aston Villa striker Adam McGurk flew to Colorado yesterday for a check on the progress of his knee injury.

McGurk sustained knee ligament damage in the closing stages of last season - just weeks after he had been drafted into Martin O'Neill's senior squad for a training camp in Spain.

He told Villa's website: "I'm pleased with the progress I've made so far, but it is frustrating watching the rest of the players getting down to pre-season training, while I'm nowhere near that stage.

"But the medical staff here are right when they say that I have to be patient. I can't afford to come back too soon and risk aggravating the injury. So I'll just keep working hard and do as I'm told."

The Northern Ireland youth international continued: "I'm going to see Dr Steadman and hopefully he'll be pleased with the progress I've made.

"I know from a few of the senior players - people like Martin Laursen, Patrik Berger and Mark Delaney - that I couldn't be in better hands.

"Dr Steadman is the very best there is and he's helped a lot of top players around the world come back from injuries like mine."