Marvelous Nakamba breaks his silence over his injury ahead of Aston Villa return

Marvelous Nakamba has spoken for the first time after his devastating knee injury back in December.

The Aston Villa midfielder - a shining star in Steven Gerrard's first month as manager - damaged ligaments in the 1-0 defeat Anfield.

Nakamba, 28, who's hoping to return to action before the end of the season, told : "After the (Liverpool) game ended and, after we did some tests, that's when our physios said, 'Yeah, this needs some treatment!'

"It was not something that I could play again in the next match. It was my first time having surgery and the first time experiencing all of those things.

"I've been continuing to speak with the medical team here who tell me how to make my leg stronger and to recover faster and quicker and so on.

"Injuries are frustrating at any time, but I’d just won the player of the month for the club and I was getting more game time.

"Steven Gerrard and his new team came in and I’m grateful for the chance I got from them. I was enjoying the training and improving.

"Unfortunately, I got the injury and now I have to work hard on coming back stronger."

Nakamba, of course, was forced to withdraw from the Zimbabwe squad for last months' Africa Cup of Nations, adding: "The timing was very, very bad. There was the Africa Cup of Nations for my country, so it was very frustrating for me.

"I had to support the guys that went there to do the best for the nation. It was out of my control.

"But people around me have been encouraging me but I also knew in myself that these things can happen. I have to soldier on and focus on getting better, becoming stronger and stronger.

"I’m working on being stronger mentally, physically, everything. I try to keep myself positive, you only live once. It could be worse,