De Jong Set For Debut!

Last updated : 23 August 2014 By Footy Mad - Editor

Former Ajax midfielder De Jong is available after missing the opener against Manchester City with the foot injury he suffered in pre-season, and will be joined in the squad by loan striker Facundo Ferreyra for the first time.

Midfielder Cheick Tiote will sit out once again with a hamstring problem, while central defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa picked up a knock in training last week and full-back Davide Santon is unlikely to return to the squad until November after undergoing knee surgery during the closed season.

Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez are set to make their competitive Aston Villa debuts against Newcastle at Villa Park.

Cole missed last week's opening-day 1-0 win at Stoke as he recovered from a thigh injury while Sanchez had only just signed from Elche.

Jores Okore is also in contention after playing in an Under-21s game against Stoke on Monday. The defender suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury last September after just four appearances following his £4m arrival from FC Nordsjaelland.

Strikers Christian Benteke (Achilles) and Libor Kozak (broken leg) remain sidelined.

Aston Villa (from): Guzan, Given, Baker, Vlaar, Okore, Clark, Senderos, Richardson, Hutton, Cissokho, Lowton, Stevens, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Sanchez, Cole, Westwood, Delph, Herd, Gardner, N'Zogbia, Grealish, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Bent.

Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Janmaat, Dummett, Haidara, Coloccini, Wiliamson, S Taylor, Anita, Abeid, Gouffran, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, De Jong, Obertan, Aarons, Riviere, Ferreyra, Perez.