Davies Primed to Face Wigan in First League Start for Aston Villa

Curtis Davies could make his first Premier League start for Aston Villa against Wigan today as a replacement for the suspended Zat Knight. Knight is banned for one game after being sent off during Villa's 4-4 draw at Chelsea on Boxing Day. An appeal against the dismissal was rejected by the Football Association yesterday.

Davies has been restricted to three substitute appearances in the Premier League since his arrival on loan from West Bromwich in August. Villa could also be without the left-back Wilfred Bouma as the Dutchman is struggling with an ankle injury.

Villa's midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker believes European qualification is the target for Martin O'Neill's side this season. Villa are three points away from a Uefa Cup spot in eighth place and the England Under-21 international said: "I've always been aware [at Christmas]. You have to make sure you remain within touching distance of the two top teams.

"If you can make sure that you come out of the back end of January and you are just six to nine points off second place then you are having a really great season.It is really coming down to the fact that we have to make sure that we push ourselves all the way. The possibility of qualifying for the Uefa Cup and the Champions League is there to be achieved. If we can get on a good run then we will put ourselves in a good position to achieve this kind of objective."

Birmingham City's Finnish striker Mikael Forssell has hopes for a second successive home win, against their relegation rivals Fulham. Forssell is determined to follow up the Boxing Day defeat of Middlesbrough with another victory against Fulham to set Birmingham up for their daunting start to the new year.

Birmingham face a New Year's Day trip to Manchester United, followed by matches at Arsenal and at home to Chelsea. "After a good result against Middlesbrough, we know we need a similar win against Fulham," Forssell said. "Another three points would be a huge boost for us especially as we know that we are going to be starting the new year with those games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. It would certainly put us in a better position for those games with a win against Fulham under our belts."