Aston Villa V Middlesbrough Preview

Currently lying fifth in the table, Aston Villa have a recent record of three wins and two draws in five Premier League games at home. Middlesbrough will have their work cut out if they are to take anything from this game.

After winning 1-0 in Prague, Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa team will be looking to build on that win with a victory over Middlesbrough after a defeat in their last EPL encounter, 2-0 away, at the hands of Newcastle United.

However, after three matches unbeaten, Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough side will be looking to build on that and continue their unbeaten run. The Teesiders have done quite well in their last two games, a 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers preceding a 1-0 victory at the JJB Stadium against Wigan Athletic.

Team News

Aston Villa

O'Neill rang the changes after the Newcastle defeat, bringing in six players for the victory over Sparta Prague.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel, captain Martin Laursen, in-form Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker and Luke Young were left on the bench and should now return in place of Brad Guzan, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Craig Gardner and Moustapha Salifou.

James Milner was missing for the Sparta Prague win on Thursday, but O'Neill is hopeful he will be available. If he doesn't recover in time, Steve Sidwell could retain his place in the side.

Bulgarian midfielder Stiliyan Petrov is doubtful after he missed the Newcastle and Sparta games with a hamstring strain.

Middlesbrough

Southgate must decide on a partner for Turkey international Tuncay Sanli, who is almost certain to retain his place in attack after an impressive return from injury.

That means that the Boro boss will choose between record signing Afonso Alves and top scorer Mido, who came off the bench to net his fifth goal of the campaign against West Ham last weekend.

Southgate is expected to name Justin Hoyte at right-back, relegating David Wheater to the bench, while Julio Arca is poised to replace Didier Digard in central midfield.