Craig Gardner is ready to help solve Aston Villa's right-back dilemma by being fit for Saturday's Premier League visit of Sunderland.The England Under-21 player has returned to training this week after missing the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth with a back problem suffered against Middlesbrough in the previous game.

Gardner is set to replace Olof Mellberg, who serves a one-game ban for his sending-off for two bookable offences at Fratton Park.

Martin O'Neill has no other fresh injury worries as Villa look to get back on course for Europe after three games without a win in the Premier League.

Villa (from): Carson, Taylor, Gardner, Knight, Laursen, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Petrov, Berger, Osbourne, Carew, Maloney, Harewood, Salifou.

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