Norwich City vs Aston Villa - Match Preview

Norwich take on Aston Villa at Carrow Road in a 3pm Premier League match this afternoon.

By Matt Holmes /

Norwich take on Aston Villa at Carrow Road in a 3pm Premier League match this afternoon. Although Villa are just three points ahead of the drop zone, it would take a 17 goal swing in goal difference between them and Bolton Wanderers to see them relegated, and that's only if Queens Park Rangers manage to get something at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City. Here's the team news ahead of the game... Adam Drury (groin) is a big doubt for Norwich, though James Vaughn is hoping for a recall having been left out of the 3-3 draw at Arsenal last weekend. Daniel Ayala (knee), Marc Tierney (groin) and Zak Whitbread (hamstring) are all missing from the Canaries defence. For Aston Villa, Alan Hutton ruptured his ankle ligaments in the game against Spurs and is ruled out. Andreas Weimann is also out with a medial ligament strain taken in the same game. Adam Drury (groin) remains a doubt for Norwich, but James Vaughan is pressing for a recall having been left out of last weekend's 3-3 draw at Arsenal. Long term Villa absentees still include their forward line Darren Bent (ankle), Emile Heskey (ankle) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (ribs).

Line-ups from;

Norwich (from): Ruddy, Lappin, Martin, R Bennett, Naughton, Johnson, Hoolahan, Howson, E Bennett, Holt, Jackson, Steer, Jackson, Vaughan, Morison, Wilbraham, Surman, Fox, Ward. Aston Villa (from): Given, Guzan, Lichaj, Dunne, Collins, Cuellar, Herd, Baker, Bannan, Clark, Gardner, Warnock, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Heskey, Marshall, Johnson, Stevens, Delfouneso.