The Denmark international signed a four-year deal at Villa Park in June, after completing a move from Nordsjaelland.

But his season was curtailed after just three appearances, when he hobbled off after half an hour of Villa's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on September 14.

And Vlaar vowed to aid Okore through the process, after twice suffering the injury during his tenure at Feyenoord.

"Jores is so unlucky with his injury," Vlaar told the club's official website.

"I think he did really great in the games he played. I know what he's going through and I hope that if we can have good results it will help him feel better.

"We try to help him as much as we can. He has to go on. It's going to be a long way but he's going to come back stronger.

"I will talk to him. It's little things - you have to try to give yourself a good feeling.

"Make yourself happy even if it's hard, because it's a way of helping yourself recover on your own.

"You do have to do things on your own but we'll try to help him as much as we can."

Vlaar believes the most difficult aspect of Okore's recovery will be any mental scars that remain from the injury, but he backed his defensive partner to be even better upon his return.

He added: "What I remember from the first time I played again - and for me my first official game was after 22 months - was the feeling when you got a kick on your ankle or something, the feeling of playing again.

"You know you've been playing again and that feeling makes you so happy.

"You've worked so hard and it's such a long time to comeback.

"He's going to come back very strong. A lot of it is mentally, and that's where we have to help him, because sometimes it will be difficult."