Villa pair face fitness race

Aston Villa’s Martin Laursen (knee) and Darius Vassell (ankle) have only been given a 50-50 chance of being fit to face Charlton in the Barclays Premiership at Villa Park tomorrow night.

Manager David O’Leary has put Eric Djemba-Djemba, who has been sidelined for a month by a hamstring problem, and rookie striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has yet to figure at first-team level, on alert for places on the bench.

Villa are definitely without central defenders Liam Ridgewell (suspended) and knee injury victims Olof Mellberg (knee) and Gavin McCann, but Nolberto Solano returns to the starting line-up after his impressive performance as a substitute at Southampton.

Team from: Sorensen, De La Cruz, Delaney, Laursen, Samuel, Barry, Solano, Davis, Hendrie, Berson, Whittingham, Htzlsperger, Vassell, L Moore, Angel, Cole, Djemba-Djemba, Agbonlahor, Postma.