West Ham-Aston Villa Preview: Villa Look to Maintain Top-Four Challenge

Aston Villa will look to extend their stay in the top four when they visit Upton Park on Saturday, also looking to end a winless run with their East London counterparts that stretches way back to December 1996.

The form book suggests it is Villa who should be favourites for this game, as they have won their last two games; and with a resolute backline that hasn't conceded more than two goals in any of their last 11 games, the Villans should surely fancy their chances of ending their winless run in the Eastern part of the capital.

West Ham on the other hand—a team that has flattered to deceive so far this season - will merely be looking to improve their dismal form this season, which has seen them take just one win their last 11 Premier League outings, and means they sit just a solitary point above the relegation zone.

Team News

West Ham

West Ham were hoping to welcome Kieron Dyer back into the mix for this weekend's encounter with Villa, but the injury-prone midfielder looks set to be restricted to the sidelines once again. The 29-year-old has been out of action since breaking his leg in August 2007, but is closing in on full fitness.

However, an illness has delayed his first-team return and he looks certain to miss out on Saturday.

Diego Tristan, who scored twice in a reserve game on Tuesday, is not yet fit enough to start, while long-term injury victims Dean Ashton and Danny Gabbidon remain unavailable.

Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy, who scored in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Chelsea, will most likely continue in attack.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa will welcome back their leading players after resting them for the midweek UEFA Cup defeat in Hamburg.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, James Milner and captain Martin Laursen did not make the trip to Germany, with Villa already through to the knockout stages.

Brad Friedel, Stilian Petrov and Curtis Davies are also expected to return, while 17-year-old Nathan Delfouneso will be looking to play some part after scoring in Europe for the second successive match.

Meanwhile, Norwegian striker John Carew is still struggling with a back problem, and will most probably not play any part.