Aston Villa v Wigan preview

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On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is in contention to make his Aston Villa debut after recovering from a thigh problem.

Record signing Darren Bent has shaken off a groin injury while fellow striker Emile Heskey is also in the frame after a recent hamstring setback.

Villa boss Alex McLeish will give a late fitness test to defender James Collins who suffered an ankle knock against QPR last weekend. Carlos Cuellar, Chris Herd and Eric Lichaj remain sidelined.

Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce is close to a recall having recovered from the hamstring problem which has kept him out of the last two league matches.

His return would be welcome as Steve Gohouri is suspended having been sent off against Tottenham last week.

Fellow defender Antolin Alcaraz (thigh) and striker Hugo Rodallega (knee) are unavailable.

Villa (from): Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Jenas, Petrov, Delph, N’Zogbia, Ireland, Bannan, Agbonlahor, Bent, Heskey, Albrighton, Weimann, Given, Delfouneso, Beye, Lowry, Gardner, Clark.

Wigan (from): Al Habsi, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, Lopez, Watson, Diame, Moses, Gomez, Di Santo, Jones, Stam, Van Aanholt, McArthur, McCarthy, Thomas, Sammon, Maloney, Crusat, McManaman, Kirkland.

Aston Villa v Wigan preview

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Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in training on Friday.

Striker Emile Heskey is fit to face his former club – he missed last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at West Brom with a knee injury but has returned to training.

Midfielder Jean Makoun will again not be risked with the dead leg which prevented him playing at The Hawthorns but central defender Richard Dunne has recovered from a similar knock which led to him being substituted against the Baggies.

Midfielders Charles N’Zogbia and Mohamed Diame are Wigan’s two injury worries.

N’Zogbia sustained a dead leg in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Everton but indications suggest he will recover in time.

Diame was forced off against the Toffees with a groin problem but will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness.

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Walker, Collins, Dunne, L Young, Downing, Petrov, Bannan, A Young, Agbonlahor, Bent, Marshall, Heskey, Pires, Albrighton, Delph, Reo-Coker, Cuellar, Delph, Delfouneso.

Wigan (from): Al Habsi, G Caldwell, Gohouri, Alcaraz, Watson, Figueroa, N’Zogbia, Diame, Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega, Stam, Thomas, Gomez, McArthur, Cleverley, Sammon, Di Santo, Boyce, Kirkland.