Premier League preview: Everton v Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish could be without star striker Darren Bent for his side’s Premier League visit to Everton on Saturday.

Club record signing Bent has scored 10 league goals for Villa since his move from Sunderland in January, but after a groin injury forced him to pull out of England’s squad midweek, the 27-year-old is in doubt for the clash at Goodison Park.

“It is touch and go,” McLeish said. “We will be working around the clock to try and get him fit for the Everton game. But at this moment he is injured and that is a fact. You never know by the weekend.”

“We don’t think it is too serious and it is not going to keep him out for a while, but hopefully he’ll still be available for the weekend.”

With the exception of Bent, Villa head into the match with a close to full-strength squad.

McLeish’s side are unbeaten from their opening three league games this season, with a victory over Blackburn and draws with Fulham and Wolves leaving them seventh in the standings.

Everton boss David Moyes, meanwhile, will be dealing with a key absentee of his own on Saturday, with the sale of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal leaving the Scot without one of his most influential midfielders.

After their opening day clash with Tottenham was postponed, Everton have suffered a 1-0 loss at home against Queens Park Rangers, before defeating Blackburn at Ewood Park by the same scoreline in their last start.

Moyes’ squad will be boosted by the arrival of Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe on loan from Real Madrid, but there are injury doubts over Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman.

Everton’s attacking stocks are also depleted after the deadline-day sales of Jermaine Beckford and Yakubu, while Louis Saha is another battling fitness concerns.