McLeish buoyed by Bent return

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is hoping to call on Darren Bent for the New Year’s trip to Chelsea, but he will be without Emile Heskey.

Bent has been absent through injury in recent weeks and the club has struggled to find goals, with the former Sunderland man coming under fire himself after he was pictured shopping during his side’s recent 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

However, McLeish will be buoyed by the return of his club’s top scorer to fitness, with Villa having scored just three times in their last seven games.

“He went for physio this morning (Thursday), did a good session, and he’ll train with the team tomorrow and he’ll travel,” McLeish told SkySports.

“He should then be available for selection.”

Villa will have to travel to Stamford Bridge without Emile Heskey, however, with the striker picking up an Achilles injury.

“Emile Heskey is out, he’s got an Achilles problem, maybe a bit of a chronic injury as opposed to something serious, and we’ll just have to manage that one. But he will miss this weekend’s game.”