Manchester City vs Aston Villa preview - Silva fit to face Villa

Posted Friday, April 24, 2015 by PA

Manchester City playmaker David Silva is available to face Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday after being given the all-clear following a facial injury.

Striker Wilfried Bony (foot) and midfielder James Milner (knee) are also fit again but midfielder Samir Nasri has joined the casualty list with a groin problem.

Captain Vincent Kompany (groin) remains on the sidelines for at least another fortnight while defender Gael Clichy and striker Stevan Jovetic are also out.

City host Villa fresh from the their success in reaching the FA Cup final but, with top-flight status still to be secured, they still have plenty to play for this week.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini said: "It is a test that we must win three points from to try and be as near to the top of the table as we can.

"I don't think Aston Villa will not be concentrated. One thing is to arrive in the final of FA Cup, another thing is to be relegated from the Premier League.

"I don't think they are in a very good position in the table so I am sure we are going to have a very tough game."

Tim Sherwood insists Villa are prepared for their final survival fight as he backed his side to stay up.

Villa go to City four points above the bottom three and with a Wembley meeting against Arsenal ahead next month.

Manager Sherwood replaced Paul Lambert in February when Villa were in the relegation zone but believes they have enough to survive with five games left.

He said; "There's enough games out there to be able to achieve it. We are very confident that we are going to stay in the Premier League but you just never know. If you take your foot off the pedal, this game shocks you.

"There's other teams fighting for their lives as well.

"It's important in the bad times that they stick together as well and I think we've done that.

"It's not all been plain sailing. We haven't won every game since I've come in.

"We've taken some knocks and took some last-gasp defeats as well so we've managed to brush it aside and bounce back in the following games, so there's enough character in there and enough ability in there to stay in the division."

Sherwood could have Gabriel Agbonlahor back from a hamstring injury while Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissokho are available again after respective thigh and groin problems.

Nathan Baker and Ciaran Clark (both knee) are out along with Alan Hutton (ankle), and Scott Sinclair is ineligible to face his parent club.