Captain Mellberg has been out with a thigh injury since the 4-1 defeat at Everton on 18 March, while Baros has been sidelined since picking up a knock before half-time during the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Manchester City four days earlier. Yet both are set to return to the reckoning as Villa attempt to arrest a stark slump. "I'll be very disappointed if we don't have Olof Mellberg and Milan Baros for the weekend," said David O'Leary. "All the signs are that they'll be ok."
Gareth Barry could also shake off the knee injury that forced him to limp off during Saturday's atrocious 5-0 defeat by Arsenal. "Gareth's got a slight bang on the side of his knee," Tubbs continued. "It should be settle down in a couple of days."