Villa trio expected to be fit

Aston Villa are set to be boosted by the availability of captain Stiliyan Petrov, central defender Richard Dunne and full-back Stephen Warnock for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League showdown against arch rivals Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.

The trio were all injured in Villa’s 2-0 win at Hull City on Wednesday. Bulgaria international midfielder Petrov has been under treatment for a groin problem that forced him off in the closing stages against Hull.

Dunne suffered a gashed head in a collision with Hull striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink while Warnock picked up an ankle problem.

But the trio are expected to be fit with manager Martin O’Neill likely to retain the side that started at Hull.

Team (from): Friedel, Guzan, Cuellar, L Young, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Downing, Reo-Coker, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, A Young, Carew, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Delfouneso, Davies, Albrighton, Clark.