Villa striker Emile Heskey is a doubt for the visit of leaders Chelsea due to shin and calf problems.
With Gabriel Agbonlahor still sidelined after undergoing groin surgery a fortnight ago, John Carew is set to get the nod up front if Heskey fails a fitness test.
Forward options Fabian Delph (knee) and Andreas Weimann (ankle) remain on the sidelines while defender Curtis Davies starts a one-month loan at Championship side Leicester.
Chelsea will be without striker Didier Drogba and midfielder Frank Lampard for the trip to the Midlands.
But captain John Terry is fit after recovering from the back injury that forced him to withdraw from the England squad ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro earlier this week.
Drogba is out with a fever while Lampard has not recovered from a groin strain. Defender Alex is out with a thigh injury and Yossi Benayoun is a long-term absentee with a ruptured Achilles.
Villa (from): Friedel, L Young, Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Warnock, Albrighton, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Downing, A Young, Heskey, Guzan, Clark, Ireland, Bannan, Carew, Delfouneso.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Chelsea team to play Villa will be Cech, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Malouda, Kakuta, Anelka. Substitutes from: Mellis, Borini, Van Aanholt, McEachran, Bosingwa, Zhirkov, Turnbull, Hilario.
