Left-back loan flop set to return to Aston Villa

Ally Cissokho is reportedly set to return to Aston Villa a little earlier than expected.

The Premier League club, who sit rock-bottom having failed to win a single league game since the opening day of the campaign, looks set to return to Villa Park in the New Year after failing to impress on loan at FC Porto.

The 28-year-old, who made his international debut for France in August 2010, has played just two leagues games for the Liga NOS side so far this season.

Cissokho; who joined the Villans only last summer from Valencia, was sent out on a season-long loan to the Portuguese giants back in August under former boss Tim Sherwood, although his original agreement could be cut short in the January transfer window after failing to impress abroad this term.