Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has given Grant Holt a rare start or Saturday's meeting with Fulham at Villa Park.

Following the injury to Christian Benteke earlier this week, Holt will take on the responsibility of leading the line for the hosts, who are also without Gabriel Agbonlahor due to illness.

Lambert welcomes back a trio of defenders as Nathan Baker, Joe Bennett and Matt Lowton return to the Villa side against the Premier League's bottom team.

Fulham manager Felix Magath makes three changes to the team which lost to Everton on Sunday, with Fernando Amorebieta and 19-year-old striker Cauley Woodrow both named in the starting lineup.

There is also a spot in the side for Mahamadou Diarra, who re-signed for the club in March after being released last summer.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand, Westwood, Bennett, Bacuna, Albrighton, Weimann, Holt

Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Hangeland, Heitinga, Amorebieta, Diarra, Sidwell, Kasami, Holtby, Richardson, Woodrow

You can follow live text coverage of the game on Sports Mole today.