Darren Bent, Emile Heskey in line for return

Darren Bent and Emile Heskey are in line for a return to the Aston Villa fold after injury worries.

Bent was ruled out of action hours before Villa's Boxing Day clash with Stoke, while Heskey left the field early with an Achilles problem.

The strike duo underwent scans which found no significant damage, and both players will train this week.

Villa visit Stamford Bridge to take on fourth-placed Chelsea on New Year's Eve.