Agbonlahor out for Villa

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor was ruled out of the derby clash against visiting Wolves with the groin injury he suffered during the midweek win at Wigan.

Agbonlahor, who is Villa’s leading scorer with 14 goals this season, was replaced by Emile Heskey in the only change from the side which overcame the Latics.

Victory for Villa would take them level on points, for a couple of hours at least, with fourth-placed Tottenham.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy unsurprisingly named an unchanged line-up, keeping faith with the side which triumphed 2-1 against fellow strugglers Burnley at Turf Moor last weekend.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ashley Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Carew, Heskey. Subs: Guzan, Luke Young, Sidwell, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Beye, Clark.

Wolverhampton: Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Foley, Guedioura, Henry, David Jones, Jarvis, Doyle. Subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh, Iwelumo, Milijas, Mancienne.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)