Jenas determined to make up for lost time at Villa

Jermaine Jenas insists he is ready to finally succeed at Aston Villa after overcoming his "heart-breaking" injury woes.

Former England midfielder Jenas, 28, arrived at Villa on transfer deadline day on a season-long loan from Tottenham.

But the ex-Nottingham Forest and Newcastle star is still yet to play for Villa.

He missed his planned debut with a thigh injury and then needed Achilles surgery.

But he is pencilled in to be in the squad against Norwich on Saturday - much to Jenas' delight as he not played competitively since February.

"My start here has been very frustrating," admitted Jenas.

"When I first arrived I was flying in training. I was getting my head down and doing well.

"I was so excited about the prospect of starting at a new club and then I felt a little twinge in my quad on the Thursday before the Everton match.

"It was very, very frustrating.

"Then I had the Achilles injury too.

"I came back, fought back in the gym, worked hard and all of a sudden my Achilles was really, really sore. I just thought: 'what more?'

"It was heartbreaking. It's been a real, real test of mental strength."

But Jenas insists he has emerged stronger than ever and thanked Villa boss Alex McLeish for keeping faith in him.

Jenas added: "The gaffer has been supportive throughout the whole situation.

"He's been eager to get me involved.

"He'd ring me, speak to me and reassure me that I'm still in his plans so that's been a big drive for me to continue and work hard and get myself back fit."