AMSTERDAM — Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj could miss as much as four months' time after a Tuesday evening exam showed a labral tear in his hip, MLSsoccer.com has learned.
A source explained that the US fullback had carried the injury since making his season debut with the winner in a Carling Cup victory over Hereford United, but an initial check left the club thinking it was simply a standard knock.
After experiencing pain in Monday's reserves tilt, Lichaj was taken back for a closer inspection, which revealed the hip socket cartilage tear.
Meanwhile, MLSsoccer.com has learned from an English source that former loan employers Leeds United were planning to make a transfer offer for Lichaj before the injury diagnosis. Though immaterial at this point, it can be noted that Aston Villa had snubbed all previous approaches made for the 22-year-old American this summer.
