Thommo: Gerard will be back
Phil Thompson believes Gerard Houllier will soon be back in the Aston Villa dug-out after receiving an encouraging health bulletin on his former boss.
Houllier was taken to hospital on Wednesday night where his condition has been described as 'comfortable'.
"I've spoken to Doc Waller and he's told me that everything is fine and he's doing all right," said Thompson, who worked alongside Houllier as assistant manager at Anfield.
"He's been making loads of calls on his mobile phone and after his family and football, his favourite thing is his phone. All the signs are positive.
"When he was ill before, in 2001, I always believed from day one when I was standing in for him [as Liverpool boss] that he would come back, and from what I'm told his illness this time is nothing as bad as what happened before, thankfully.
"He's had some difficulties at Villa, as he had in his early days at Liverpool. I think everyone at Villa will come to trust him as a father figure."