Villa v Fulham

Villa v Fulham

Villa Park

Kick off 3pm

Team news: Out Thomas Sorensen (hamstring), Patrik Berger (knee).

Ashley Young says it is "vital" Villa win in front of their own fans.

As Villa Park throws down the welcome mat for Steven Davis's return to the club he left for Fulham this summer, boss Martin O'Neill continues to be heavily linked with Albion central defender Curtis Davies and Porto right-back Jose Bosingwa.

And while Davis will be looking to make a special impression, the claret and blue masses will be more keen to see their team start to reproduce their pre-season form to quel growing frustration at the lack of signings so far.

A deserved 2-1 defeat against a dominant Liverpool on the opening day was followed by a spirited goalless draw at Newcastle last week in a game where they were the better side and should have won.

That will count for nothing tomorrow and it will be an expectant Villa Park that gathers in eager anticipation of a first three point haul of the season.

Young, who is showing why manager Martin OÕNeill paid out £8m for him, is determined victory will be Villa's as they bid to end a sequence of five successive draws against the Cottagers.

"We want to put on a good home performance on Saturday. Three points is vitally important," said Young.

"You want to get your first win of the season on the board - it's not good to go too long without that.

"Being at home at Villa Park in front of your own fans, it's vital we put on a good show and send them home happy.

"I'm enjoying life at Villa. We had a disappointing start against Liverpool but we played really well against Newcastle.

"It was a well deserved point at a difficult venue and in reality we should have nicked it."

Davis, who will be without injured former Villa team-mate Aaron Hughes tomorrow, moved because he couldn't get regular football in his favoured central midfield spot.

O'Neill revealed how he himself was forced to play out of position for the best spell of career at Nottingham Forest.

The Villa boss said: "Steven's preferred position is central midfield. He doesn't feel comfortable playing out wide.

"When you're playing 4-4-2, unless you've got a sitting midfielder who doesn't do anything, then it's difficult.

"I played all my time for Nottingham Forest wide right but I really wanted to play in the centre all the time.

"That's where I played for Northern Ireland, but Brian Clough said: "I'm not going to be leaving out Archie Gemmill and that's the position where I feel you are best equipped to help the team."

O'Neill added: "There was always going to be a stage when some younger players, who aren't playing regularly, were either going to battle to get into the side or say: "I've battled as hard as I can and I'm still not in the team - I might look elsewhere."