Paul Lambert will resist the temptation to rush Gabriel Agbonlahor back into action, despite the lack of firepower at Aston Villa.
• Lambert praises Defoe and Jones
Lambert has made no secret of his desire to beef up an attack that drew a blank on the opening day defeat against West Ham United.
He is still mulling over the prospect of bringing in another striker and has Jermain Defoe and Kenwyne Jones on a list of possible targets. Villa have also been linked with a possible move for unwanted Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, although club sources have denied any formal approach from Villa Park.
Lambert held talks with owner Randy Lerner last week over the possibility of adding to the squad but needs to offload fringe players like Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock before bringing in new faces.
Agbonlahor damaged knee ligaments against Chicago Fire during Villa's pre-season trip to the USA and is still some weeks from returning to senior action. Villa have already virtually dismissed any possibility of the England striker playing any part in either of their remaining fixtures in August, firstly against Everton and then, in the Capital One Cup, against Tranmere Rovers.
Lambert would ideally like the striker to return to action against Newcastle on September 2, but the likelihood is that Agbonlahor will be left to make a full recovery until after the international break. That would see Agbonlahor missing for virtually a month ahead of a potential return against Swansea at Villa Park on September 15.
"It's been a blow losing Gabby, no doubt about it. We're still talking another few weeks before he's back," Lambert said. "He is a very big player for us and was looking very sharp in pre-season. That is the really disappointing thing.
"He has so much pace and strength and that is such a big plus for us, but we will be careful with him, and then when he does eventually come back we'll be stronger in that department, no doubt about it."
