Premier League preview: Aston Villa v Wigan

Aston Villa and Wigan will look to put sluggish starts to the Premier League season behind them when they clash at Villa Park on Saturday.

Alex McLeish’s Villa side have just one win so far from their six games – a 3-1 triumph over Blackburn on August 20 – but on the plus side they are also unbeaten, after draws with Fulham, Wolves, Everton and Newcastle.

In their most recent league game, they conceded an injury-time equaliser to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road for their fifth draw of the campaign so far, and McLeish will be looking for all three points when struggling Wigan visit.

Roberto Martinez’s side have also won just once this term, a 2-0 triumph against QPR, but they have lost their last three games – to Manchester City, Everton and most recently Spurs.

McLeish has received some welcome news from the physio room this week, with reports Jermaine Jenas, James Collins, Emile Heskey and star striker Darren Bent should all be ready to resume after injury.

Bent has recovered sufficiently from a slight groin strain that kept him out of Villa’s 1-1 draw with QPR on Sunday.

Defender Collins has overcome an ankle complaint, while Jenas and Heskey have both recovered from thigh problems.

But it is not all good news for McLeish, with defender Carlos Cuellar set to remain on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Martinez has some selection headaches of his own ahead of the match, with Ivorian defender Steve Gohouri suspended after being sent off against Spurs.

Defender Emmerson Boyce is still troubled by a hamstring injury, and Paraguayan centre back Antolin Alcaraz is out with a thigh strain.

Martinez has, however, been buoyed by news striker Hugo Rodallega’s knee injury was not as bad as first feared but it remains to be seen whether the Colombian will be ready to resume against Villa.