Premier League preview

Sunderland will be keen to kick-start their season when they take Aston Villa in the English Premier League action on Saturday.

Steve Bruce won the men only twice so far this campaign, in recent years thanks to goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner in the 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

But aside from that win, and their crushing 4-0 home win over Stoke City on September 18, he was thin pickings for men Bruce, who were in 14th place on nine points after nine games.

Party Alex McLeish, meanwhile, is just two points better than their opponents on Saturday, saying that the 11 points to sit in 11th place.

But they arrive at the Stadium of Light in some indifferent form after suffering a loss of 01.02 West Brom in their last start, although McLeish was right to be offended when defender Chris Herd was violently removed after 35 minutes.

Fortunately for McLeish, 22-year-old is to appeal against his dismissal was upheld, meaning it has the right to play this weekend, rather than face three matches in a ban.

Scot also had some good news from his coaching team, Gabby Agbonlahor with Fabian Delph and Alan Hutton all to be fit for the clash.

Agbonlahor missed training on Monday with a stomach bug, but is expected to be ready in time for the match, and Delphi has recovered from a virus that kept him in a match West Bromwich.

Hatton, meanwhile, has trained strongly on Monday, despite requiring stitches in his head after colliding with team mate Charles N'Zogbia on Saturday.

On-loan midfielder Jermaine Jenas is still hampered by the Achilles tendon injury, but may soon become a reality, so his first appearance at the villa.

Bruce can hand Irish midfielder David Meyler his first start for Sunderland in January, now that the 22-year-old has successfully fought back to fitness after two serious knee injuries.

"David was a terrible time with a very bad injury. They were the injuries that could have easily ended his career. But he has worked incredibly hard to get fit," Bruce told the Daily Express.

"His position has been absolutely wonderful and no one was more determined to get back playing again than he was."

"I'm just keeping our fingers crossed for him that all his problems were injured in the past, and that he is fit."

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon long-term losses with a knee injury, striker Frazier Campbell.