Skipper Ron Vlaar is set to give Aston Villa a fitness boost
Ron Vlaar was today set to ride to Villa's rescue with Paul Lambert ready to declare him fit to face Cardiff.
The skipper missed Saturday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham with a hamstring injury as Villa sank to their 10th home defeat of the season.
They go to the Cardiff City Stadium tonight desperate for a win to ensure they don't get pulled further back into the relegation fight.
They are four points above the Premier League drop zone and Lambert is hopeful Vlaar will return.
He said: "It was touch and go for West Ham, so maybe he will be fit for tonight. We will see, but this affects the balance with the two left-footers playing centre-half (Nathan Baker and Ciaran Clark). It's not ideal.
"The two boys have done great every time I have asked them to do it. If they make a mistake it is an honest mistake but Ron being there gives you that experience.
"He gives you the balance, that's the big thing, and he's been round the block so knows what the game entails and it was a blow for him not to play."
But Lambert, who could also be without Ryan Bertrand (ribs), insisted he is not prepared to rush the 28-year-old back if he is not fit after he limped off in the defeat at Everton last week.
He said: "I have to see. You can't risk it. He has got to be comfortable himself to play and if he is comfortable and thinks he can play then you have to look at it."
Vlaar has been one of Villa's stars of an inconsistent season with seven points separating the entire bottom half.
And Lambert believes the Dutchman has adjusted to the Premier League after his first year in the top flight.
Lambert added: "I think it took him a little bit to adjust to it but I think this year he has been very good."
Second-bottom Cardiff are six points behind 12th-placed Villa and Brad Guzan is out to ease the weekend disappointment.
He added: "It was hugely frustrating because West Ham was a game we felt we should have won"
"Conceding two goals in the manner we did leaves a bit of a sour taste.
"You know what is coming straight after kick-off and to not deal with the long ball is disappointing. It's not the result we wanted, obviously but the positive is we get the chance to go again against Cardiff."
