Four Villa Players could feature for England…
Four Aston Villa players could be in-line to feature at some point in tonight’s International friendly between England and Egypt at Wembley Stadium.
England regular Emile Heskey is the most likely to start out of the four, as he is a favourite of Wapello’s and is most likely to start alongside Wayne Rooney.
James Milner is also in with a big chance of starting. He’s gone from strength to strength this season, from being a World Cup hopeful to a certainty on the plane for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.
Stephen Warnock will do battle with Everton full back Leighton Baines after Wayne Bridge ruled himself out last week and Ashley Coles injury.
And then finally there’s the return to the International fold for Stewart Downing. He was out with a broken leg and this is the first time he could return to the setup. I personally believe he’s least likely to play because I still think he’s capable of so much more at Villa – but then again Fabio Capello has made no secret of how much he rates the winger.
This is how tonight’s line-up could look like if he picked all four to start:
Stephen Warnock – John Terry – Matthew Upson – Wesley Brown
Stewart Downing – Steven Gerrard – Frank Lampard – James Milner
Wayne Rooney – Emile Heskey
Full Time: Aston Villa 5 Burnley 2
Stewart Downing bagged a double as Villa beat Burnley 5-2 at Villa Park today without really reaching top gear.
The first half sore a poor performance from the Villa side, which sore Burnley takes the lead after only ten minutes.
David Nugent broke free in the Villa area, who the centred the ball for Steven Fletcher who fired home for the away side.
Villa looked sluggish and out of shape, but they soon equalised just past the half hour mark. Ashley Young passed the ball to James Milner from a corner and then Young hit the ball that somehow missed everyone in the box and Villa were then level.
A different Villa side come out for the second half. Villa then took the lead nine minutes into the second half when Young sent in a low ball which sore Stewart Downing score.
The just three minutes later Stewart Downing scored again. Jensen beat out a shot from Agbonlahor but Milner responded quickest to the rebound, turned the ball back inside to Downing and his shot deflected past Jensen.
The scoring just continued when Villas next attack sore Gabriel Agbonlahor break down the left to centre the ball for England International Emile Heskey to fire past the Burnley keeper.
Burnley now looked in deep trouble and it wasn’t long before Villa made it five, Heskey found Milner in space and then he played the ball in only fire Gabby to beat the Burnley backline and score.
Late on Burnley pulled one back in extra time from Paterson.
Villa was never at their best today but still scored five and will now be looking to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.
Full Time: Villa 0 West Ham 0
Villa could only manage a goaless draw at Villa Park today against West Ham in a game that we really should be taking all three points.
Its no secret that other clubs have sat up and took notice of whats been happening at Villa Park, as Fulham last season celebrated as if they had won the game when they drawed with us 0-0. This year it was West Hams turn to frustrate and then celebrate.
There used to be a time that the Eastend side would expect to give Villa a game, and although they did have a few chances today it was clear by Gianfranco Zolas tactics that they were here just to avoid defeat.
Villa also blew the chance to close the gap on Manchester City and Tottenham and now instead sit two points behind them after playing the same number of games.
It wasnt the most entertaining of games when there was only one chance really in the first half. Stewart Downing crossed the ball and a wonderful piece of skill sin Gabriel Agbonlahor with a spinning snap-shot only to be denied by England goalkeeper Robert Green.
In the second half Villa did get the ball in the hammers net, but John Carew was judged to of been offside.
And then Agbonlahor could of won all three points in the final minutes when Stewart Downing found him in acres of space and he broke free only to be denied once again by the West Ham goalkeeper.
Villa showed they struggle to break down a side who set out not to concede today and this route one football down the wings was once again found out. If we are to ever break the top 4 we must have more than just a plan A as its becoming obvious how Villa will attack each and every time now.
