Ireland is in line to make his bow after his arrival in midweek from Manchester City as part of the deal which took James Milner in the opposite direction.

Villa caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald is set to make sweeping changes to the side that started last night's 1-1 Europa League draw against Rapid Vienna with central defender Richard Dunne returning after being suspended for the clash in Austria.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel, midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, full-back Luke Young and winger Ashley Young are also set to return.

Striker John Carew should be fit after a knee injury but fellow forward Gabriel Agbonlahor (hamstring), midfielder Steve Sidwell (Achilles) and central defenders James Collins (calf) and Carlos Cuellar (hamstring) are under treatment. Rookie Austrian striker Andreas Weimann is out after suffering an ankle injury against Rapid - his former club.

Team (from): Friedel, Guzan, Warnock, Dunne, Davies, Beye, L Young, Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Ireland, Downing, A Young, Carew, Bannan, Delfouneso, Hogg, Heskey, Osbourne, Clark, Lowry, Baker.