Elmander fit for Villa clash
Posted Saturday, April 03, 2010 by PA
Bolton striker Johan Elmander is fit to face Aston Villa at the Reebok Stadium despite requiring six stitches in a head wound sustained in last week's 4-0 defeat to Manchester United.
The defence is strengthened by the return of Gretar Steinsson from a one-match ban, while Paul Robinson faces a late fitness test on an ankle injury that saw him sit out the United game.
Boss Owen Coyle, though, is still without long-term injury victims Stuart Holden, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien.
Coyle knows a motivated Villa will be out to rectify their 7-1 hiding at Chelsea last Saturday.
With Villa also struggling with injuries, and question marks this week hanging over O'Neill's position, they would appear to be at a low ebb but Coyle insists they remain a redoubtable side.
"At the end of the day what Aston Villa have at their disposal is quality, and they have it in strength and depth," said Coyle.
"So I know whoever pulls on that Villa shirt will be a quality player.
"As for any kind of backlash, no, I'm not worried about that at all because Villa will be motivated to win the game anyway.
"Clearly things conspired and went against them at Chelsea last week, so they'll be looking to rectify that and win points.
"All I have to do is get my group ready and make sure they're 100%, and whatever comes after that then only time will tell."
O'Neill has dismissed claims from Chelsea skipper John Terry that Villa fade in matches and insists his side are "one of the fittest" in the Premier League.
O'Neill is adamant statistics do not back up Terry's comments and says they might "come back to haunt him" with Villa due to meet Chelsea again in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 10.
The former Celtic boss said: "I thought it was an idle comment from John Terry because statistically it is not proved.
"In fact, if you want to go into statistics, and we use them like every football club, we are one of the fittest teams in the country.
"Those sort of comments, you would hope, wouldn't come back to haunt the player or his team in the near future.
"If they (Chelsea) had watched us this last couple of weeks, I don't believe they could have seen that point."
Midfielder James Milner, defender Richard Dunne and forward trio Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew need late fitness tests.
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