Bouma signed from PSV Eindhoven for �3.5m in 2005

Aston Villa defender Wilfred Bouma is close to making a return for the club after a six-month lay-off.

The 30-year-old has pencilled in a reserve-team clash with Chelsea on 2 March to make his comeback.

He had originally planned to turn out for the second string against Arsenal on 16 February, but withdrew on the morning of the game with a sore leg.

The Netherlands international dislocated his ankle in July's 1-0 Intertoto Cup win over Odense.

Manager Martin O'Neill confirmed that Bouma will miss out on Thursday's Uefa Cup second leg against CSKA Moscow as he eases back into action.

606: DEBATE Great news for our final push aston@villa1

In Bouma's absence, Nicky Shorey, Luke Young and Carlos Cuellar have deputised in the left-back slot as Villa have launched a sustained challenge for a Champions League spot.

There will be more reorganisation to be done ahead of Thursday's visit to Luzhniki Stadium, as Cuellar and Nigel Reo-Coker are both ruled out for with hamstring problems.

The tie is finely poised after John Carew's header cancelled out Wagner Love's solo effort at Villa Park to level the scores at 1-1 heading into the second match.

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