Aston Villa face having to continue paying on-loan Jermaine Jenas' wages for the rest of the season despite the midfielder's Achilles injury.
Tottenham midfielder returns to club after loan is cut short by injury
Aston Villa face having to continue paying on-loan Jermaine Jenas' wages for the rest of the season despite the midfielder being ruled out for six months with an Achilles injury.
The 28-year-old injured his Achilles last weekend against Manchester United on his full debut for the club, having previously made just two substitute appearances following a summer loan switch from Tottenham.
Villa, however, will fulfil the terms of the agreement and continue to pay his salary as they signed him on a one-year deal, despite the fact he has returned to his parent club.
Agreement
"I think you do an agreement with a club and you take that on as far as the agreement goes (lasts)," said Villa manager Alex McLeish.
"The club which takes him (a player) on loan has to fulfil that agreement. Jermaine will go back to Tottenham but we have an agreement with Tottenham."
The injury to Jenas is a blow for McLeish, who had been excited by the prospect of unleashing him in a Villa shirt.
Injuries
"Unfortunately his career never got started here at Villa and I really feel for Jermaine," he added.
"He's not got his career kicked off at Villa. During the first day of training, he looked the real deal and I've not seen that since because of some niggles with his Achilles and calf.
"This latest injury is a hammer blow to him and the club. We tried everything to get him to a level of fitness and he had one problem after another so we are really gutted for the lad and he is now out for the rest of the season."
