Preview: Swansea City vs. Aston Villa

Aston Villa will be hoping that they can climb into the top half of the Premier League table when they travel to the Liberty Stadium to face Swansea City on Boxing Day.

Despite being reduced to 10 men against Manchester United at the weekend, Villa secured a 1-1 draw against the in-form side to climb up to 12th in the table.

Following that match, the club appealed against Gabriel Agbonlahor's dismissal, and have since had the red card rescinded, so the striker will be available for the trip. Kieran Richardson misses out, as he is still suspended after being sent off in their match against Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion earlier this month.

On-loan midfielder Tom Cleverley is available again though, having sat out against his parent club at the weekend, while Alan Hutton can return from suspension for the visitors.

There are injury concerns for Paul Lambert as well, as Nathan Baker, Philippe Senderos and Ashley Westwood all miss out, while Joe Cole will need a late fitness test.

Assuming Brad Guzan starts, the American goalkeeper will make his 100th appearance in the Premier League in this match.

Meanwhile, the Swans will be looking to make it back-to-back wins after edging out Hull City at the weekend.

The 1-0 victory at the KC Stadium has left Garry Monk's side eighth in the table, six points off a place in the top four.

The team have been hit by a number of injuries in recent weeks, but the manager is optimistic that Gylfi Sigurdsson, Leon Britton and Jefferson Montero will all be ready to return from their knocks.

Top scorer Wilfried Bony and defender Angel Rangel were rested against Hull, but Monk has previously said that he will be rotating his squad over the Christmas period, so they could also return this week.

When Villa traveled to the Liberty Stadium last season, they came away with a 4-1 defeat, although they held the team to a 1-1 draw during the festive period last year.

Swansea City:

Form in Premier League: LDWLLW Form in all competitions: LDWLLW

Possible starting lineup: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Richards, Ki, Carroll, Sigurdsson, Britton, Routledge, Bony

Aston Villa:

Form in Premier League: DDWWLD Form in all competitions: DDWWLD

Possible starting lineup: Guzan, Lowton, Okore, Vlaar, Hutton, Cissokho, Delph, Sanchez, Cleverley, Agbonlahor, Benteke

Sports Mole says: 2-0