Aston Villa’s Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has angered Villa boss David O’Leary after failing to report for duty after the African Cup of Nations.

O’Leary wanted him available to face Newcastle on Saturday but the player, who was due back in training on Wednesday, has yet to reappear.

“We’ve not been able to get in touch to discover where he is,” said O’Leary.

“I can’t speculate as we’ve not been able to make contact. He has a fair chance of his wage packet being lighter at the end of the month!”

“He will probably turn up and tell me some story about visiting a long lost relative.”

O’Leary signed Djemba-Djemba for £1.35m from Manchester United just over a year ago but he has struggled to make an impact with Villa.

Djemba-Djemba was disciplined by O’Leary last November after he blamed the manager for the club’s poor start to the season.

O’Leary added: “We were hoping for him to be back and were pinning our hopes on him returning on Thursday.”

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