Aston Villa v Spurs Premier League Preview: Downing Expected To Make Home Debut

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Premier League match preview:

Saturday 28th November 2009

Aston Villa, currently in 5th place in the Premiership, host 4th placed Tottenham Hotpsur in the pick of Saturday’s Premier League matches at Villa Park on Saturday evening.

Aston Villa have excellent home-form, having won four out of their six home matches so far in the 2009/10 season, but face a Tottenham Hotspur side who will be full of confidence after their 9-1 thrashing of Wigan Athletic last weekend.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing is likely to make his home debut for The Villans after having been out of action for the past seven months with a broken foot, with his away debut coming last week as a substitute against Burnley.

Central defender James Collins is to face a late-fitness test, with Carlos Cuellar ready to deputise for the Welsh International.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp will be without Spurs skipper Ledley King for the match, while Croatian playmaker Luka Modric is still out with a broken leg, but the 24-year-old attacking midfielder has been training with the youth team and is expected to return soon.

The only other long-term injury is goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who is out for some time after injuring himself in a motorbike crash, which has left the Italian keeper out of action for up to five months.

Tottenham Hotpsur have all other players available for the match, with Croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar likely to start in midfield after his stunning performance against Wigan Athletic last weekend, while four-goal hero Jermain Defoe is also expected to start the match.

Aston Villa (team to be chosen from): Friedel, Guzan, Luke Young, Beye, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, Gardner, Delph, Ashley Young, Downing, Carew, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso.

Spurs (team to be chosen from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Hutton, Assou Ekotto, Bale, Woodgate, Bassong, Dawson, Palacios, Jenas, Huddlestone, Lennon, Bentley, Kranjcar, Naughton, Keane, Defoe, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko.