Vlaar sidelined after surgery

Amsterdam - Netherlands international Ron Vlaar will be out of action for four months, much longer than he had initially expected following a knee operation, the defender told Dutch media on Monday.

Vlaar underwent a meniscus operation last month and was expecting to be back in action after a month but said complications meant his rehabilitation could take up to four months.

The 30-year-old defender is out of contract after three seasons at Aston Villa, where he served as captain.

He had been hoping to sign for a new club in the next weeks with media linking him to an ever-growing Dutch presence at Southampton or a transfer to Lazio.