Looks like hopefully Villa will have the balance which they have sorely missed in recent weeks. Happy Days .. makes the Manc jobs that much more difficult
Left-back Wilfred Bouma could return after an eight-month absence for Aston Villa in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at leaders Manchester United.
The Dutch international came through a third reserve-team run-out against Tottenham on Monday night since dislocating his ankle against Odense in an Intertoto Cup clash in late July.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill had intimated before the international break that Bouma "might need another game or two" before he would come under consideration for a first-team call-up.
Now he has passed that test with flying colours after appearing for the full 90 minutes for the second team against Stoke and Tottenham in the past seven days.
Bouma's availability would enable O'Neill to bring some much-needed balance to his back four who were torn apart in a 5-0 defeat at Liverpool in their last outing.
Right-back Luke Young has switched positions to effectively fill the gap left by Bouma.
But that has left Villa exposed at right-back and Nigel Reo-Coker's limitations as a makeshift performer in that position were ruthlessly exposed at Anfield.
Villa, who has also missed the steadying influence of injured skipper and central defender Martin Laursen, have conceded 18 goals during an eight-game run in all competitions without a victory.
O'Neill looks certain to be without striker Emile Heskey at Old Trafford after his withdrawal from the England squad to face Ukraine with a hamstring injury.
Gabriel Agbonlahor could earn a recall to partner John Carew after being left out of the starting XI against the Reds, providing he recovers from a knock which prompted his withdrawal from the England Under-21 squad.
Agbonlahor has scored only once for Villa since mid-December and came in for abuse from fans during the last home game with Tottenham.
Left-back Wilfred Bouma could return after an eight-month absence for Aston Villa in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at leaders Manchester United.
The Dutch international came through a third reserve-team run-out against Tottenham on Monday night since dislocating his ankle against Odense in an Intertoto Cup clash in late July.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill had intimated before the international break that Bouma "might need another game or two" before he would come under consideration for a first-team call-up.
Now he has passed that test with flying colours after appearing for the full 90 minutes for the second team against Stoke and Tottenham in the past seven days.
Bouma's availability would enable O'Neill to bring some much-needed balance to his back four who were torn apart in a 5-0 defeat at Liverpool in their last outing.
Right-back Luke Young has switched positions to effectively fill the gap left by Bouma.
But that has left Villa exposed at right-back and Nigel Reo-Coker's limitations as a makeshift performer in that position were ruthlessly exposed at Anfield.
Villa, who has also missed the steadying influence of injured skipper and central defender Martin Laursen, have conceded 18 goals during an eight-game run in all competitions without a victory.
O'Neill looks certain to be without striker Emile Heskey at Old Trafford after his withdrawal from the England squad to face Ukraine with a hamstring injury.
Gabriel Agbonlahor could earn a recall to partner John Carew after being left out of the starting XI against the Reds, providing he recovers from a knock which prompted his withdrawal from the England Under-21 squad.
Agbonlahor has scored only once for Villa since mid-December and came in for abuse from fans during the last home game with Tottenham.
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