Bouma set for Villa call

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill could hand Wilfred Bouma a shock call-up in to his squad for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League game against visiting Tottenham.

The Dutch international is under consideration after playing a reserve game - his first competitive action since dislocating an ankle in an Intertoto cup tie with Odense BK in late July.

Steve Sidwell has not recovered sufficiently from an ankle problem but Emile Heskey should be fit after a recent Achilles problem.

O’Neill has allowed third-choice keeper Stuart Taylor and midfielder Barry Bannan to join Cardiff and Derby on loan respectively.

Squad from: Friedel, Guzan, Cuellar, Knight, Davies, L Young, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, A Young, Carew, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Harewood, Delfouneso, Reo-Coker, Bouma, Salifou, Gardner.