Jermaine Jenas has described his lengthy injury lay-off as "heartbreaking" as he prepares to make his Aston Villa debut.

Jenas moved to Villa from Tottenham on a loan deal in the summer, but has not yet featured for the club after suffering thigh and Achilles problems.

"My start here has been very frustrating. When I first arrived, I was flying in training. I was getting my head down and doing well," the 28-year-old said.

"I was so excited about the prospect of starting at a new club and then I felt a little twinge in my quad on the Thursday before the Everton match.

"It was very, very frustrating. Then I had the Achilles injury too. I came back, fought back in the gym, worked hard and all of a sudden my Achilles was really, really sore. I just thought 'what more?'

"It was heartbreaking. It's been a real, real test of mental strength."

Jenas is in line to make his debut for the Midlands club when they take on Norwich on Saturday.