Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner has described the challenge which injured him in a recent pre-season friendly as the "worst tackle [he has] ever been on the end of".

The 23-year-old suffered an ankle injury in Tuesday's pre-season win over Swindon Town, but has revealed that the damage is not as bad as first feared.

"I received an outrageous tackle in the game against Swindon on Tuesday, it was the worst tackle I have ever been on the end of!" Gardner wrote on his Instagram account.

"Thank God that my legs are so strong that scan results have shown there was no leg break or any bone injury.

"Gutted as I was feeling fit and strong ready for the new season but that's football, so grateful it's weeks rather then months my ankle will be fine."

Gardner, who scored six goals on loan in the Championship with Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest last season, recently said that he was hoping to break into the Villa first team this season.