Newcastle welcome back Ryan Taylor after a ban but will be without suspended trio Kevin Nolan, Chiek Tiote and James Perch.
Leon Best has been ruled out for the rest of the season, but Jose Enrique may feature after a hamstring injury.
Aston Villa
Injured: None
Newcastle
Suspended:Perch (three matches), Nolan (two matches), Tiote (one match)
Doubtful: Enrique (hamstring), Ireland (thigh)
Injured: Ben Arfa (broken leg), Best (ankle), Gosling (knee), Smith (ankle)
MATCH PREVIEW
Newcastle travel to Villa Park for the first time since their infamous relegation from the Premier League was confirmed 23 months ago. Nearly two years on and the Magpies are striving for a Premier League top-10 finish, something they have not achieved since 2006.
We have four home games and three away and what we require is results. Excuses are not an option. We want results and points
Gerard Houllier, Aston Villa manager
Of last weekend's winning side, Messrs Harper, Coloccini, Nolan, Lovenkrands, Ameobi and Steven Taylor also played in that painful 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on the final day of the 2008/2009 season. However, skipper and top scorer Kevin Nolan's absence through suspension may dent hopes of banishing those painful relegation memories for players and supporters alike with victory.
This time around it's Aston Villa who have the more pressing relegation concerns. Gerard Houllier's side have taken just six points from the last 21 available to slip closer to the bottom three. Despite this poor run of form, Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has publically backed the Frenchman to lead the club to safety.
It will be 24 years next month since Villa were last relegated from the top flight. Since the Premier League era began, they have enjoyed 15 top-10 finishes in 18 seasons.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Newcastle won the reverse fixture 6-0 at St James' Park in August. The now departed Andy Carroll scored a hat-trick, Kevin Nolan netted twice and Joey Barton was also on the scoresheet.
• Six of the last seven encounters between these clubs have ended with victory for the home side. The other fixture was drawn.
Aston Villa
• It's just five wins in their last 25 league games for Villa.
• Aston Villa have dropped more points (23) from winning positions than any other team. They would be third in the league table with those additional points.
• Villa have conceded more goals from corners (13) and more headed goals (also 13) than any other team in the Premier League.
• Ashley Young has won five penalties, more than any other player in the league this season.
Newcastle
• Thirty-nine points from 31 games represents Newcastle's equal-best points haul at this stage of a top flight season since 2004.
• Newcastle are looking to complete just a second league double of the season. The other came against West Ham.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Aston Villa
Bent: 16 goals* (13 league); A Young: 8 goals (6 league)
* Bent scored 11 goals (8 league) for Sunderland
Newcastle
Nolan: 12 goals (12 league); Ameobi: 8 goals (5 league)
NB. Carroll scored 11 goals (11 league) for Newcastle
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistant referees: Ron Ganfield & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Howard Webb
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (D2-2 v Everton, a): Friedel, Walker, Dunne, Collins, Luke Young, Downing, Makoun, Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor (Heskey 90), Bent. Subs not used: Marshall, Pires, Albrighton, Delph, Petrov, Cuellar.
Newcastle (W4-1 v Wolves, h): Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ferguson (Perch 59), Barton (Steven Taylor 89), Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Lovenkrands (Ranger 68). Subs not used: Krul, Campbell, Tavernier, Kuqi.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport