Delph came to prominence whilst at Elland Road

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph is on target to return to action in January after a knee injury.

The England Under-21 international has been sidelined since April with cruciate ligament damage.

Villa assistant boss Gary McAllister, said: "Fabian is doing fantastically well. He's gone over to the USA to break his rehab up.

"He's done some training with a specialist over there. Fingers crossed, he'll be here [ready] in January."

McAllister added: "It's been a long time out for Fabian and he's having five or six days over there and then he will be back.

Delph moved to Villa for £6m in the summer of 2009 and McAllister, who gave Delph his breakthrough at senior level when in charge of Leeds, has no doubt he can be a force for the Midlands club.

"He is a talented boy, no doubt about that, honest player and someone I admire," he said.

"He loves to play and he loves training. He's a bit frustrated at the moment but he is getting closer.

"This [break] has been a good chance for him to reflect and have a good look at the Premier League."

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