Ridgewell returns for Villa

Aston Villa central defender Liam Ridgewell will return for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.

England Under-21 international Ridgewell has been suspended for the last three matches after being sent-off against West Brom earlier this month.

He is set to link-up at the heart of the Villa defence with Denmark international Martin Laursen.

The availability of Ridgewell will allow Mark Delaney to return to his more accustomed role at right-back.

Villa are definitely without central defender Olof Mellberg, who could miss the rest of the season after knee surgery, and midfielder Gavin McCann.

McCann will definitely miss the remainder of the campaign having broken down with more knee problems earlier this month, forcing him to undergo a second operation this year.

Provisional squad: Sorensen, De La Cruz, Delaney, Laursen, Ridgewell, Samuel, Barry, Solano, Davis, Hendrie, Berson, Whittingham, Hitzlsperger, Vassell, L Moore, Angel, Cole, Djemba-Djemba, Postma.