Mellberg may miss farewell match

Olof Mellberg, Aston Villa’s long-serving defender, is in danger of missing his Villa Park farewell against Wigan tomorrow after being laid low by illness.

Swedish international Mellberg, 31, who joined Villa in a £5m deal from Racing Santander in 2001, is joining Juventus at the end of the season.

His absence would present manager Martin O’Neill a major headache at right-back.

Craig Gardner, who has also played in the role this season, is still struggling with a thigh strain that has forced him to miss the last five games.

A win for Villa would see them leapfrog over Everton and into fifth place.

Everton are not in action until Sunday when they travel to Arsenal.

Provisional squad: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Young, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Agbonlahor, Carew, Harewood, Salifou, Routledge, Berger, Taylor, Maloney, Osbourne