Yacob makes long-awaited return as Clarke makes six changes
ALBION are given a huge boost with the return of Claudio Yacob to their starting XI after a seven-week absence due to a hamstring injury.Steve Clarke makes five other changes to the side that lost 1-0 to QPR in the FA Cup on Tuesday.
Ben Foster, Jonas Olsson, Liam Ridgewell and Peter Odemwingie make the Baggies boss’ line-up after being rested from the start in midweek.
Skipper Chris Brunt has recovered from illness to take his place in midfield.
The men to make way are Boaz Myill, Gabriel Tamas, Goran Popov, George Thorne, Markus Rosenberg and Jerome Thomas, who are all among the substitutes.
Shane Long (dead leg) and Marc-Antoine Fortune (hamstring) have failed to recover from injury in time and are not involved.
Paul Lambert makes three changes to the Villa team that lost 1-0 to Southampton last weekend.
Gabby Agbonlahor, Ron Vlaar and Joe Bennett come in, with Enda Stevens and Andreas Weimann missing out altogether and Brett Holman dropping to the bench.
ALBION (4-2-3-1): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Brunt (c); Odemwingie, Morrison, Dorrans; Lukaku. Subs: Myhill (gk), Thomas, Popov, Rosenberg, Thorne, Dawson, Tamas.
VILLA (4-3-3): Guzan; Baker, Vlaar (c), Clark, Bennett; Lowton, Delph, Westwood; N’Zogbia, Benteke, Agbonlahor. Subs: Marshall (gk), Bent, Ireland, Lichaj, Holman, Bowery, Bannan.
REFEREE: L Probert (Gloucestershire).