Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Jean Makoun and Simon Dawkins have been released by Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.

Norwich 1 Aston Villa 2

West Brom 2 Aston Villa 2

Aston Villa 2 Ipswich 1

Norwich 1 Aston Villa 4

Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa 1 Reading 0

Winger Brett Holman believes Aston Villa can take confidence from their performances against Manchester United and Arsenal ahead of tomorrow evening’s home clash with fellow strugglers Reading.

Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 0

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent is back in contention for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Arsenal after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury.

Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of full-backs Eric Lichaj and Nathan Baker after suspension and injury respectively for tomorrow’s Premier League clash at Manchester City.

Aston Villa midfielder Karim El Ahmadi will return after a one-match ban for tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Aston Villa will today assess the fitness of striker Darren Bent, who has suffered an injury to the ankle which sidelined him for the final three months of last season.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert backed Sunderland counterpart Martin O’Neill to get it right after inflicting a demoralising defeat on his side.

Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1

Swindon 2 Aston Villa 3

Aston Villa 1 Norwich 1

Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne has been ruled out of Aston Villa's Premier League clash with manager Paul Lambert’s former club Norwich.

Fulham 1 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert preferred Gabriel Agbonlahor to £18m record signing Darren Bent up front for the Barclays Premier League midlands derby with West Brom at Villa Park.

Southampton 4 Aston Villa 1

Aston Villa 2 Swansea 0

Aston Villa 3 Tranmere 0

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert made six changes for the home Capital One Cup second-round clash with Tranmere.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert may must make at least one change as he seeks a morale-boosting first win of the season against Tranmere in the Capital One Cup.

Aston Villa are close to completing their second signing in the space of 48 hours with Sheffield United right-back Matt Lowton moving to the midlands club.

Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson scored as Norwich beat Aston Villa at Carrow Road to end their fine Premier League campaign on a high.

Norwich 2 Aston Villa 0

Aston Villa 1 Bolton 2

Aston Villa 1 Stoke 1

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was angered by referee Michael Oliver’s decision-making in their 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa.

Stiliyan Petrov will begin treatment at a London hospital today after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini told his players to be ready to capitalise on any slip-ups from Barclays Premier League title rivals Manchester United after they were held to a 3-3 draw with Sunderland.

If Fernando Torres betrayed his bitterness a little after ending his “overall” goal drought against Leicester last month, here was another joyous step back towards normality for the Spanish striker.

Roberto Di Matteo has hailed the fighting spirit in the Chelsea squad as they stake a last-ditch claim to clinch a Champions League spot with a top-four finish in the Barclays Premier League.

Chelsea interim boss Roberto di Matteo hailed a “fantastic performance” by his side as a 4-2 win at Aston Villa bolstered their Champions League hopes.

Aston Villa 2 Chelsea 4

Aston Villa will be without joint top scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan will make his first Premier League start of the season against Bolton tomorrow in place of Shay Given, who is sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury.

Aston Villa skipper Stiliyan Petrov is back for the home Barclays Premier League clash with champions Manchester United tomorrow.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is battling to shake off the hamstring injury suffered on England duty in time for Monday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan is available after a club suspension for tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich.

On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is in contention to make his Aston Villa debut in tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Wigan after recovering from a thigh problem

Aston Villa will be without Emile Heskey and Jermaine Jenas for tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League game against Newcastle.