Gabby Agbonlahor in line for derby return
Tuesday 30th November 2010, 1:32PM GMT.
Gabby Agbonlahor is in contention to return to the Villa side for the Second City derby at Blues tomorrow.
The striker missed Saturday’s 4-2 Premier League defeat at home to Arsenal through illness but has recovered for tomorrow’s quarter-final cup-tie at St Andrew’s
However, Stephen Ireland is unlikely to figure as he missed training today through illness.
Meanwhile, Stephen Warnock has called for Villa to be “mentally strong” as they prepare to face Alex McLeish’s side.
Villa have won just one game in November and have suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two Premier League outings against Blackburn and Arsenal.
And Warnock admitted the players have to show the kind of character they demonstrated in a spirited second-half fightback against the Gunners if they are to progress to the semi-finals of the League Cup.
“It is a tough time because we have lost a couple on the spin but we have to be strong mentally now,” said Warnock.
Villa ran out 1-0 winners when the two sides last met at St Andrews’s as Agbonlahor struck a late winner in September 2009.
Warnock has particularly fond memories of the game having made his first appearance in a Villa shirt.
And he is keen to savour another victory over Blues.
“The fact is it is a derby and a massive game. Getting one over your local rivals is a nice feeling and we will be hoping to do that,” he said.
UK Sport
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