Dowie keeps Gardner under wraps

Hull boss Iain Dowie will not risk defender Anthony Gardner against Aston Villa tomorrow.

The former Tottenham player, who has been out for two months with an ankle injury, has returned to full training and Dowie is hopeful he will be ready to face Sunderland on Saturday.

Midfielders Dean Marney (illness) and Bernard Mendy (hamstring) are doubtful while Caleb Folan is set to miss out because of a hip problem.

Kamil Zayatte, Amr Zaki, Ian Ashbee, Richard Garcia (all knee) and Stephen Hunt (foot) are out but keeper Matt Duke and teenage midfielder Tom Cairney will keep their places after impressing in the goalless draw against Birmingham at the weekend.

Hull (from): Myhill, Duke, McShane, Marney, Mouyokolo, Kilbane, Bullard, Cairney, Geovanni, Boateng, Ghilas, Olofinjana, Barmby, Altidore, Fagan, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Mendy, Dawson, Sonko, Cooper.