Preview: Norwich City vs. Aston Villa

Paul Lambert will return to Carrow Road on Tuesday for the first time since departing Norwich City to manage Aston Villa in the summer.

Lambert is still caught in a legal dispute with his former employers, but that will be put aisde when the two teams battle it out for a spot in the semi-finals of the League Cup.

The Canaries are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run, a spell of form that has seen them lifted into 12th in the Premier League table. However, Villa sit just outside the relegation zone in 16th following a difficult campaign thus far.

History does appear to point to the home side, meanwhile, with the away side having failed to win any of the last eight encounters between the two sides in any competition.

Michael Turner could return for the Canaries, but Ryan Bennett is expected to deputise should the former Tottenham Hotspur defender fail to recover. Meanwhile, Mark Bunn will continue between the sticks with John Ruddy injured.

Villa are also expected to name their strongest available side, but Lambert could hand a starting role to Darren Bent who made an appearance from the bench against Stoke City at the weekend.

Recent form:

Norwich City: WDDWW Aston Villa: LDWDD

Possible lineups:

Norwich City: Bunn; Whittaker, Bassong, Bennett, Garrido; Tettey, Johnson; Snodgrass, Hoolahan, Pilkington; Holt

Aston Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Baker, Clark, Lichaj; Bannan, Westwood, Herd, Agbonlahor; Bent, Benteke

Sports Mole says: 2-1