Aston Villa must bounce back at Bolton

Gerard Houllier could have something to prove to Aston Villa fans after the controversial team selection in midweek, but they face a tough challenge against a Bolton side that are aiming for Europe.

After stating an interest in winning the FA Cup, the French boss caused quite a stir by naming a severely weakened team for the clash with Manchester City in midweek – a game in which Villa were poor and never really threatened their opponents.

The likes of Ashley Young, Darren Bent and Stewart Downing should all come back into the first team to face Bolton, with the newly appointed captain Young looking to continue a run of scoring in five consecutive appearances against the Trotters. The winger is 7/1 to get the first goal on Saturday.

After a long period of struggle since Houllier took over Villa appeared to have become more consistent in recent weeks, though only two of their wins this season have come on the road and they have only won one of their 15 Premier League games against teams in the top half of the table.

They face a tough game against a Bolton side who are riding high in the Premier League and have lost only two of their 16 league matches at the Reebok Stadium. Indeed Villa are priced at 23/10 to win, compared to 13/10 for a Bolton victory and 12/5 for the match to end in a draw.

The Trotters are especially dangerous now they have added on-loan Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge to their ranks, with the forward scoring in his first four matches for Owen Coyle's side and 11/2 to get the first goal against Villa.

Houllier will travel to the Reebok without Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar as he is out for another three weeks with a hamstring problem, while January signing Jean Makoun completes a three-match ban.

But the key absentee for Villa will be central defender Richard Dunne, who faces a month out after injuring his shoulder in the poor defeat to Manchester City. His place in the centre of the back four should be taken by James Collins.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is blessed by no new injury concerns, but he remains without long-term absentees Zat Knight, Sam Ricketts, Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien. The manager will be motivating his players to end a run of eight games without a win over Saturday's opposition, with Bolton drawing four and losing four to Villa since December 2006.

Villa are now sitting mid-table in 12th following their dismal start and a win at the Reebok Stadium could take them to within one points of Bolton and possibly even contemplating going for a Europa League berth between now and the end of the season.

A win for Bolton could take them above Liverpool and into sixth place in the Premier League, and with Villa only five points off the bottom three it could place more pressure on Houllier to ensure the club retain their top flight status.