Ross Barkley set to return as Aston Villa host Crystal Palace
![Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion – Premier League – Villa Park](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ks7ZKjQfqog9dzKH39zfcX-320-80.jpg)
Ross Barkley is expected to be available for Aston Villa’s clash with Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
The midfielder has been out for a month with a hamstring problem but has returned to training while Ezri Konsa has also shaken off an illness.
Trezeguet remains out with a thigh injury and, although Wesley has started running again, the striker will not return from his long-term knee injury until next year.
Palace will be without former Villa defender Gary Cahill at Villa Park.
The experienced centre-back has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury following last weekend’s 7-0 drubbing at the hands of champions Liverpool.
Striker Christian Benteke – another ex-Villa player – returns from a one-match ban, but Wayne Hennessey (thigh), Nathan Ferguson (knee), Martin Kelly, Mamadou Sakho (both calf) and Connor Wickham (thigh) remain sidelined.
Aston Villa provisional squad: Martinez, Steer, Heaton, Cash, Guilbert, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Engels, Targett, Taylor, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, Barkley, Ramsey, Elmohamady, Hourihane, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Traore, Watkins.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Provisional Crystal Palace squad: Guaita, Butland, Van Aanholt, Clyne, Ward, Tomkins, Dann, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Kouyate, Schlupp, Riedewald, McArthur, McCarthy, Townsend, Eze, Ayew, Zaha, Benteke, Batshuayi.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1