Martin O'Neill is hopeful of having both James Milner and Craig Gardner available for the Barclays Premier League clash with West Ham.

Milner has been suffering with flu over the past few weeks while Gardner suffered a bruised and cut leg in the UEFA Cup game with Hamburg.

MON thinks both will declare themselves available for the tough fixture this afternoon.

He said: "James has a better chance now. He has had the week to recover. He has trained.

"Craig came off in the game in Germany and he is particularly sore.

"But he is a strong and brave lad and I think he will declare himself fit.

"I am hoping everyone else will be fine. We are raring to go."

O'Neill is looking forward to the trip to Upton Park and believes Villa face a really tough clash.

"I think the West Ham game will be really difficult. They played exceptionally well against Chelsea and Liverpool.

"They have gone to two really difficult venues in Stamford Bridge and Anfield in recent weeks and not got beaten.

"Confidence will be high in their camp but it will be high in our camp as well."