Villa manager Martin O’Neill has warned his stars some of them face disappointment when he names his team to battle Burnley.

O’Neill is likely to recall Stiliyan Petrov and James Collins, with the skipper available again following a suspension and the Welsh centre-back expected to be fit following a groin injury.

But that means two of the side who helped Villa record their biggest win of the season, the 5-1 thrashing of Bolton a fortnight ago, will have to make way.

Luke Young and Nigel Reo-Coker, who captained the side against the Trotters despite his recent bust-up with O’Neill, are the most obvious candidates to step down and the Villa manager admits there is a major selection dilemma.

He said: “I like a bit competition for places, most managers generally do. It means people will sometimes be disappointed, particularly those who have far from let the club down.

“Luke has been out a fairly lengthy time. I know he thinks he’s been fit for the last week or two but it’s been difficult to change things around. No one has done particularly poorly.

“That’s been encouraging. People are fighting for places in the side and the same would go for Nigel. He has got his head down in training and got on with things.”

O’Neill reckons the trip to Turf Moor promises to be one of the most challenging of the campaign for his team with Owen Coyle’s newly-promoted side having chalked up five victories from their opening six Premier League home games – including one over Manchester United.

He said: “They got a very big scalp early on in the season in United,. They play really nice football. They also did great to get a result against Manchester City away from home (in the 3-3 draw a fortnight ago) so that will have been a massive confidence booster.

“It will be a stern test for us and I hope the same applies for them as well.”

Each new campaign seems to throw up a surprise package and this time-out it has been the Clarets, according to O’Neill,  who reached the Premier League for the first time in their history via the Championship play-offs last May.

He said: “So far you would have to say they have been a real breath of fresh air. They would be surprised and delighted by their home form.”

Villa are a point ahead of last season’s total at the same stage. However, it was at this stage last year that O’Neill’s side embarked on a 13-game League unbeaten run between November and February which included seven straight wins on the road – thrusting them into third.

Naturally, O’Neill would be delighted to repeat the feat.

He said: “To stay in contention we would need to be picking up the occasional unexpected point here and there – on trips away for example.”