Strike duo make debut for Villa

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill handed debuts to new-look strike force John Carew and Ashley Young in tonight’s Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle.

Young, an £8million transfer window signing from Watford, was paired with Carew, who arrived from Lyon in a swap deal with Milan Baros, while there was a return after injury for Stilian Petrov.

Glenn Roeder welcomed back long-term absentees Titus Bramble and Damien Duff as well as Steven Taylor, who returned from suspension as former Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano served a one-match ban.

Bramble had been sidelined since picking up a calf problem at the end of November, while Duff had made just one appearance as a substitute since undergoing knee surgery the same month.

1 SOCCER Newcastle

Newcastle v Aston Villa

By Damian Spellman, PA Sport

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill handed debuts to new-look strike force John Carew and Ashley Young in tonight’s Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle.

Young, an £8million transfer window signing from Watford, was paired with Carew, who arrived from Lyon in a swap deal with Milan Baros, while there was a return after injury for Stilian Petrov.

Glenn Roeder welcomed back long-term absentees Titus Bramble and Damien Duff as well as Steven Taylor, who returned from suspension as former Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano served a one-match ban.

Bramble had been sidelined since picking up a calf problem at the end of November, while Duff had made just one appearance as a substitute since undergoing knee surgery the same month.

Newcastle: Harper, Carr, Taylor, Bramble, Huntington, Milner, Butt, Parker, Duff, Dyer, Martins.

Subs: Srnicek, Sibierski, Edgar, O’Brien, Carroll.

Aston Villa: Sorensen, Bardsley, Mellberg, Cahill, Bouma, McCann, Petrov, Barry, Agbonlahor, Carew, Young.

Subs: Taylor, Angel, Davis, Hughes, Berger.

Referee: H Webb (S Yorkshire)