Wolves vs Aston Villa preview - Johnson fitness boost for Wolves

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 by PA

Wolves skipper Roger Johnson is set to be fit for the home Barclays Premier League derby with Aston Villa after missing the FA Cup replay against former club Birmingham with an ankle injury.

Full-back Kevin Foley (ankle) and winger Matt Jarvis (hamstring) are also expected to be available after being ruled out of the shock third round exit at Molineux.

Nine-goal top scorer Steven Fletcher will return along with the other nine players not included for the replay as Wolves look to build on last weekend's impressive 1-1 draw at Tottenham.

Mick McCarthy does not believe his decision to rest 10 first-team players for Wednesday's defeat to Birmingham has put him under extra pressure to beat Villa this weekend.

McCarthy's FA Cup side contained just one player who featured in the Barclays Premier League match at Tottenham the previous Saturday, with the former Sunderland boss prioritising league points over any cup run.

However, McCarthy does not feel the midweek result has turned up the heat for this weekend.

"No extra pressure," he said. "I could have played them all in the week, and have three or four that were knackered and a couple injured.

"I think the preparation has been great. There's always going to be pressure - we're down near the bottom of the league, playing a team that we can get closer to.

"You can put whatever pressure on yourself. I don't see any more pressure than the quest to stay in the Premier League and getting points week in week out. Nobody else will heap any more on me."

Striker Robbie Keane is in contention to make his full Aston Villa debut in Saturday's Barclays Premier League away clash with his former club Wolves.

The on-loan Los Angeles Galaxy player only appeared as a late substitute against Everton but has impressed manager Alex McLeish in linking up with playmaker Stephen Ireland in training this week.

Midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) and veteran striker Emile Heskey (Achilles) are still ruled out as Villa look to protect a 33-year unbeaten record at Molineux.

Villa have not been beaten by Wolves at Molineux for 33 years - a run of 10 games.

But McLeish insisted: "Stats won't determine the outcome of this game. It is who does the best on the day.

"Sometimes you can need a bit of luck because you can play great and something might go against you."

McLeish will again be without midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) and striker Emile Heskey (Achilles) while midfielder Fabian Delph has been allowed to join his former club Leeds on loan to regain match fitness.

"We felt Fabian is at the stage of his career, after suffering with a bad injury for a long period, where he needed to get games," McLeish added.

"We've got to test his levels for everyone going forward, for both Fabian and us. Ciaran Clark has been doing really well in central midfield. It would be difficult for Fabian to get a look-in."