Birmingham have completed a double swoop for Curtis Davies and Obafemi Martins today.

Richard Dunne wants to make up for double disappointment by helping Aston Villa to achieve FA Cup glory as they gear up for this evening’s semi-final clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies has been given the go ahead to resume training after three months on the sidelines following shoulder surgery.

PAUL McGRATH is still treated like a god by Aston Villa fans and the former Ireland defender believes Richard Dunne will soon be the fans’ new hero and Mark Hughes will regret the day he sold him.

ASTON VILLA boss Martin O’Neill believes he has assembled a stronger squad than last season, claiming he “couldn’t be more pleased” with his summer signings.

Aston Villa have taken their summer spending to £40m after today finally confirming the signing of Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne.

Skipper Stiliyan Petrov believes Aston Villa will be signing “a true leader” when they formally complete the signing of Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne today on a four-year contract in a £6m deal.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of West Ham defender James Collins, on a four-year contract.

Aston Villa have confirmed they have agreed a fee with West Ham for defender James Collins.

ASTON VILLA look set to add Ireland international and Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne to their squad after they yesterday reached an agreement with City over a fee for the 29-year-old.

Aston Villa are hoping to complete the signing of Blackburn left-back Stephen Warnock left-back in the next 24 hours.

Aston Villa are set to hand Premier League debuts to Habib Beye and Fabian Delph against Wigan at Villa Park.

Aston Villa are sweating over the fitness of their Player Of The Year Stiliyan Petrov who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the Peace Cup clash with Atlante.

Aston Villa are poised to make a bid for Leeds’ £6m-rated teenager Fabian Delph.

Aston Villa have dismissed speculation that they are set to make a move for Wigan central defender Titus Bramble.

John Carew is convinced Aston Villa will see the best of his strike partner Emile Heskey next season.

Stiliyan Petrov has admitted he would be “honoured” if offered the Aston Villa captaincy by manager Martin O’Neill.

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle 0

SWANSEA have admitted their interest in Hamilton’s Republic of Ireland U21 midfielder James McCarthy but have denied making a multi-million pound bid for the player.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen has announced his retirement because of persistent injuries.

THE Professional Footballers’ Association has never been afraid to cock a snook at logic – think of the decision to crown David Ginola in Manchester United’s treble-winning campaign in 1999 – but this season they might just have surpassed themselves.

Martin O’Neill admits Aston Villa have sorely missed the “big heart” of injured skipper Martin Laursen after seeing their hopes of securing Champions League football virtually disappear.

Martin O’Neill is already eyeing up players to strengthen Aston Villa’s bid for honours next season after admitting he expects Manchester City and Tottenham to be major rivals.

Martin O’Neill will leave it entirely in the hands of crocked Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen to decide on his future.

MARTIN O’NEILL has admitted Aston Villa “won’t be able to compete financially” with the big four clubs in the Barclays Premier League.

Luke Young has admitted that Aston Villa have greatly missed the presence of injured skipper Martin Laursen at both ends of the pitch.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill will hold talks on Monday with crocked skipper Martin Laursen but will not make any any predictions about the centre-back’s future.

Wilfred Bouma is set to undergo further ankle surgery which will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen is set to miss the remainder of the season with the knee injury which has sidelined him for the past three months.

Aston Villa are hoping striker Gabriel Agbonlahor shakes off a virus in time to face Everton in Sunday’s home Barclays Premier League clash.

Left-back Wilfred Bouma could return after an eight-month absence for Aston Villa in Sunday’s Premier League clash at leaders Manchester United.

Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen remains optimistic the club can still qualify for next season’s Champions League despite their recent poor run of form.

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill believes rivals Arsenal will have been “re-energised” rather than exhausted by their mid-week triumph in Rome as the battle for a spot in next season’s Champions League spot hots up.

Aston Villa skipper Martin Laursen has suffered a setback in his bid to return to action after his knee problem.

Aston Villa will return to virtually full strength for the Barclays Premier League clash at home to Stoke on Sunday.

Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell will return after suspension and is included in the squad to face former club Chelsea in the Premier League clash at Villa Park.

Gareth Barry insisted he never contemplated becoming a trouble-maker to engineer a move away from Aston Villa because of his “respect” for manager Martin O’Neill and the midlands club.

Denmark defender Martin Laursen has announced his retirement from international football.

Goalscoring debutant Emile Heskey insists “sooner or later” someone will break up the Premier League’s ’big four’ – and sees no reason why it should not be Aston Villa.

Gareth Barry will regain the captaincy of Aston Villa in the absence of Martin Laursen after the Danish defender was ruled out for two months.

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Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry and defender Luke Young could return for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League derby against West Brom.

Aston Villa’s £10m central defender Curtis Davies has told the Barclays Premier League big guns: “We are here to stay.”