Mellberg returns for Villa

Aston Villa will be boosted by the return of Olof Mellberg for tomorrow’s Villa Park clash with Manchester United.

But manager David O’Leary has doubts over his first-choice strike-force of 23-goal Juan Pablo Angel and Darius Vassell.

Swedish international central defender Mellberg missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Southampton with flu. However he has been back in training this week and is set to replace Liam Ridgewell at the heart of the Villa defence.

Angel is under treatment after the Colombian international twisted his knee against Southampton.

England international Vassell suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem last weekend.

Team (from): Sorensen, De La Cruz, Mellberg, Johnsen, Samuel, Solano, Barry, McCann, Hitzlsperger, Vassell, Angel, Dublin, Whittingham, Cooke, L Moore, Ridgewell, Postma.