Xavier back for Villa

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate gave defender Abel Xavier his first appearance since rejoining the club, in the Barclays Premiership clash at Aston Villa.

Xavier made his last appearance for Boro on the same ground last season, before having to serve a 12-month ban for failing a drugs test.

Southgate also handed a rare opportunity to striker Malcolm Christie, whose only other first-team action this season was as a substitute against Portsmouth in August.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill made two changes from the side which had earned a goalless draw at Wigan last weekend.

Striker Chris Sutton was ruled out with a calf injury, while Peter Whittingham was left out of the starting line-up.

Back into the side came the midfield duo of Gavin McCann and Stiliyan Petrov, unavailable against the Latics because of a suspension and a hamstring injury respectively.