With Martin Laursen sidelined for two months, Gareth Barry will wear the captain's armband for Aston Villa. The England midfielder was stripped of being skipper amid talk of a move to Liverpool last summer, when the responsibility was handed on to Laursen.

Boss Martin O'Neill said: "Gareth Barry will be the captain in Martin's absence and there is no problem with that whatsoever. He has done it before and he has had an exceptionally good season."