Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has expressed his sympathy for his teammate Gabriel Agbonlahor, who is fighting to be fit for the new season.

The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury during the Villains' pre-season tour of the United States and is expected to miss the start of the new Premier League campaign.

"It is a blow because in pre-season Gabby has done really well and against Chicago, before his injury, he was unbelievable," the Birmingham Mail quotes Delph as saying.

"The boys are disappointed, but I'm sure in a few weeks he will be back with us and he seems pretty confident because he's naturally fit.

"I think a few of the lads feared the worst and I certainly did because he's a good friend of mine."

Villa kick off their campaign at home to West Ham United on August 18.