Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar has handed a major boost to his club ahead of their trip to Manchester United on Saturday.
With centre-backs Philippe Senderos (calf), Nathan Baker and Jores Okore (both knee) also doubtful, Villa was left with only one fit centrael defender in Ciaran Clark for the Old Trafford meeting.
But captain Vlaar is set to return from a calf injury which has provided some much-needed relief for Tim Sherwood's side.
Vlaar said: "I hope to be involved at the weekend. It was really frustrating to have another setback and that's happened a few times.
"But I feel good now and that's most the most important thing for me. A run of games is what I'm aiming for now - for myself and for the team. It's been really hard.
"Injuries have happened to me a few times this season and the feeling I have now is I'm as happy as a child.
"I played a few games but then got injured again. But hopefully we've found the cause and it feels a lot better now - more free with my calf.
"The knee injury was unfortunately something which would have happened one way or another but the calf kept coming back. It's all good now."
