Warnock can make Derby date

Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock will return after suspension for the Sunday’s Barclays Premier League derby with Birmingham at Villa Park.

The former Liverpool player was banned for the midweek Carling Cup win over Burnley after incurring five bookings.

Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (groin), captain Stiliyan Petrov (knee) and defender Luke Young (hamstring) are injured and midfielder Marc Albrighton is banned but boss Gerard Houllier hopes striker John Carew will have recovered from the bout of flu which ruled him out against the Clarets.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Downing, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Ashley Young, Ireland, Heskey, Guzan, Cuellar, Clark, Carew, Delfouneso, Lichaj, Bannan, Hogg.