BIRMINGHAM, England -- Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey could miss up to a month with a knee injury suffered in training on Wednesday.

Heskey will require surgery on his medial knee ligament, leaving coach Gerard Houllier without his co-scoring leader. The former England international has four goals this season.

"Heskey tore the medial meniscus in his right knee yesterday in training with no other player involved in the incident," the club reported on its website on Thursday.

"The injury will require an operation and he faces between three to four weeks out of action."