Agbonlahor set for derby return

Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor is set to return for his side’s English League Cup quarter-final away to city rivals Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on Wednesday.

The striker missed the 4-2 Premier League loss to Arsenal on Saturday because of illness but is now in contention for the last-eight clash.

Attacking midfielder Stephen Ireland is set to miss out with illness but centre-back James Collins is fit.

Marc Albrighton is also out following an operation to remove his appendix, while Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Emile Heskey and Stiliyan Petrov all remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner could play against his old club if he passes a fitness test on an ankle injury, in a straight swap for the now injured Alexander Hleb.

Aston Villa and Birmingham played out a goalless draw when they last met in a league match at Villa Park in October.