Premier League: Norwich v Aston Villa match preview

A look ahead to this week’s Premier League fixture at Carrow Road

Paul Lambert returns to former club Norwich on Saturday (Getty images)

Gary Hooper could be in line to make his first start for Norwich having fully recovered from a knee injury. Chris Hughton could switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the first time this season to accommodate Hooper. The former Celtic striker will most likely partner fellow summer signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel up front.

Paul Lambert returns to his former club after a Gabriel Agbonlahor double earned his side a narrow 1-2 victory on his first return to Carrow Road last season.

Both teams are in relatively poor form with only one win in their previous four matches, but in striker Christian Benteke, Aston Villa boast the player to have scored the most goals this calendar year in the Premier League after netting 18 times.

Saturday:12.45pm.

Norwich 1 (Holt) Aston Villa 2 (Agbonlahor 2), Premier League, May 2013

Norwich 1 (Morrison) Aston Villa 4 (Holman, Weimann 2, Benteke), Capital One Cup, December 2012

Aston Villa 1 (Benteke) Norwich 1 (Turner), Premier League, October 2010

Stats

Aston Villa have failed to take the lead in a single match this season, coming from behind to beat Arsenal on the opening day.

Five of the previous ten matches between these two teams have resulted in a draw.

ODDS

Aston Villa: 3.2

Norwich: 2.44