BETWEEN THE STICKS
BRAD FRIEDEL
HE’S 39 in May, but Villa fans will tell you the ageless American is playing as well as ever between the sticks.

Retired from international football with more than 80 caps to his name in 2005, but holds the record for consecutive Premier League appearances with 215.

AT THE BACK
CARLOS CUELLAR
MADE his name in the UK as a centre-half at Glasgow Rangers, but has since established himself at right-back in the current Villa line-up. The 28-year-old Spaniard, a near £8m signing from Rangers in the summer of 2006, has also chipped in with three goals so far this term.

STEPHEN WARNOCK
FOR many, Warnock should have been England’s left-back for their match against Egypt last week, but Fabio Capello opted for Everton’s Leighton Baines instead.

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old former Liverpool graduate can look back fondly on his first season at Villa after nailing down a regular starting place.

RICHARD DUNNE
HAS picked up where he left off at Manchester City after quickly burrowing his way into the affections of Villa fans – and scoring against City in his first re-match earlier this season.

The popular Irish international has certainly moved his game and his character well away from the young tearaway that once left Everton happy to get rid.

JAMES COLLINS
ANOTHER giant centre-half in the heart of Villa’s defence – and a genuine target for Stoke last summer.

The big Welsh international, signed from West Ham last summer, was missing from the starting line-up when Stoke were at Villa Park in December, but has since held down a regular spot following an injury lay-off.

IN THE MIDDLE
ASHLEY YOUNG
FEISTY character out on the wing earning high praise in the past couple of seasons, not least from Martin O’Neill, but now appears to have missed out on the World Cup.

O’Neill raised eyebrows when shelling out nearly £10m for the then 21-year-old in January 2007, but he’s since become an integral and largely successful part of the Villa game plan on right or left wing.

STILIYAN PETROV
A FIRM favourite with fans now after they took time warming to a player O’Neill has rated at both Celtic and Villa. Steady rather than spectacular, but the veteran Bulgarian remains a latent goal threat and netted against Stoke at Villa Park last term.

JAMES MILNER
MIGHT not get a start in South Africa, but will be one of the first names in Fabio Capello’s squad because of his flexibility.

Made his name playing wide for club and England under-21s – for whom he has a record 46 caps – but is now a firm fixture in the centre of Villa’s midfield.

STEWART DOWNING
LAST summer’s £12m signing from Middlesbrough, but arrived at Villa Park with an injury that delayed his Villa debut until mid-November. Getting back towards his best out on the left wing, by all accounts, and still hoping for a late shot at the World Cup in the summer.

UP FRONT
GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR
A REAL speed merchant, the 23-year-old Brummie has 14 goals to his name so far this season and was another once flirting with a trip to South Africa.

Missed last week’s FA Cup win at Reading with a virus, but is expected to return to the starting line-up this weekend.

JOHN CAREW
O’NEILL likes them big and strong – and they don’t come much bigger or stronger than the experienced Norwegian. Scored the winner against Stoke in December and will be hoping last Sunday’s hat-trick at Reading is enough to retain his place.

ON THE BENCH
BRAD GUZAN
ANOTHER American goalkeeper, but this one’s only 25 and yet to start a Premier League match.

LUKE YOUNG
MIXED year for the one-time England defender after the tragic loss of his brother and decision to quit international football.

HABIB BEYE
THE 32-year-old from Senegal was interesting Stoke until he opted to leave Newcastle for Villa last summer.

STEVE SIDWELL
FORMER Reading and Chelsea midfielder now in his second season at Villa, but has only started 22 league games.

FABIEN DELPH
STILL only 18, but has 16 appearances to his name after joining from Leeds last summer.

MARC ALBRIGHTON
THE 20-year-old midfielder from Tamworth has made just two sub appearances in Premier League.

EMILE HESKEY
USUALLY starts, much to Carew’s displeasure, but may be sacrificed for Agbonlahor this weekend.