People: Aston Villa will rival Newcastle for St Etienne's powerful Senegal striker Bafetimbi Gomis. Villa had him watched last week and will swoop if he decides to move this summer. With Arsenal also sniffing about Gomis won't come cheap - bidding will start at £8million.

Teamtalk: Aston Villa duo Nigel Reo-Coker and Olof Mellberg are set to return to full fitness in time to feature at home to Middlesbrough on Wednesday. Midfielder Reo-Coker sustained a back injury in the draw at Arsenal last time out, but has returned to training and suffered no adverse reaction. Sweden defender Mellberg has been sidelined for the last two matches with an ankle injury, but has also trained and should be fit to face Gareth Southgate's side in the Premier League clash at Villa Park. Villa boss Martin O'Neill told the club's official website: "At the minute, they're both going to be okay. Obviously we've got a couple of days to negotiate training."

Setanta Sports: Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has been dealt a double injury fillip with the news that both Nigel Reo-Coker and Olof Mellberg are set to be fit for the midweek visit of Middlesbrough. Reo-Coker was forced out of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Arsenal after just 32 minutes with a back injury, while an ankle knock has ruled Mellberg out of Villa's last two games. O'Neill now looks set to have both players available for selection again, with the return of Mellberg particularly welcome given the long-term injury that fellow central defender Curtis Davies sustained at Emirates Stadium. "Both of them have trained with no adverse reactions," the Villa manager told the club's official website. "Olof is properly fit now and Nigel is okay."