Fitness doubts for Villa boss Lambert

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert will assess the fitness of striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, winger Charles N’Zogbia and captain Ron Vlaar ahead of the home Barclays Premier League St Stephen's Day encounter with Tottenham.

Agbonlahor (thigh) and Vlaar (calf) have missed three and six games respectively while N’Zogbia suffered a knee injury in training ahead of Sunday’s 8-0 mauling at Chelsea.

Striker Darren Bent is again ruled out with a hamstring injury while centre-back Richard Dunne will undergo rehab work after a third groin operation.

Provisional squad: Guzan, Given, Lowton, Herd, Clark, Vlaar, Lichaj, Baker, Stevens, Bennett, Ireland, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Delph, Holman, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams, N’Zogbia.

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