Crouch to start for Villa

Peter Crouch will start his first game for Aston Villa for two and a half months in tomorrow’s Premiership clash at Bolton.

The striker will get his opportunity as 21-goal leading scorer Juan Pablo Angel will be sidelined for three weeks with a knee problem.

Crouch’s last appearance in the starting line-up saw him net twice in a 5-0 win at Leicester in late January.

The Easter programme has come too soon for Mark Delaney, Marcus Allback and Nolberto Solano to return to action although they are at various stages on the comeback trail after injury.

Villa (from): Sorensen, De la Cruz, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Hendrie, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Barry, Vassell, Crouch, Postma, Whittingham, Ridgewell, L. Moore, Dublin.