Steve Sidwell hopes to feature against Portsmouth Football Club next week.

The former Chelsea midfielder is yet to make his Premier League debut for Aston Villa due to calf and knee injuries, but he has declared himself fit to face Pompey in ten days.

"It's been a really frustrating time," Sidwell told the Birmingham Mail. "It couldn't have come at a worse time coming to a new club and obviously trying to impress in the early stages.

"But it has happened. I've been mentally strong and I'm back now. I feel fine and fully fit and I am really looking forward to getting out there and getting among it.

"There are games there to play and there's fitness there to recover so if it goes well hopefully I will be in the manager's thoughts for the Portsmouth game."