New rules introduced this season mean all top-flight clubs must register a maximum of 25 players with the Premier League following the close of the summer transfer window. Villa caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald has not used up the full allocation available to him, with three slots left vacant. Changes can be made to the squad when the transfer window reopens. Summer recruit Stephen Ireland - used as a makeweight in the sale of James Milner to Manchester City - is included. Seldom-used Moustapha Salifou is also named in the squad, alongside reserve-team players Eric Lichaj, Jonathan Hogg and Isaiah Osbourne. The Villa side also has a youthful look to it, with a host of players under the age of 21 available for MacDonald to call upon in addition to his 22-man ranks. Villa squad: Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, James Collins, Carlos Cuellar, Curtis Davies, Habib Beye, Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Stephen Warnock, Luke Young, Stewart Downing, Jonathan Hogg, Stephen Ireland, Isaiah Osbourne, Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Moustapha Salifou, Steve Sidwell, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew, Emile Heskey.
