Colin Calderwood is in line for a recall to face treble winners, Manchester United, in the Worthington Cup at Villa Park on Wednesday.

Calderwood has lost his place in the side at Villa after John Gregory opted to switch to playing with a 4-4-2 formation. But the way is clear for Calderwood to return to action against Alex Ferguson's side. Gregory has to reshuffle his defence for the clash as Villa are without their captain, Gareth Southgate. The England international central defender misses the clash as he will be serving a one match ban.

Southgate picked up the ban after being sent off for the first time in his career after collecting two bookings during Villa's 3-1 defeat at Leicester City last week. As well as being banned, Southgate also has to answer a misconduct charge in the wake of his dismissal as he was charged for comments that he made to referee Jeff Winter when he tried to find out the reasons for his sending-off.

In the absence of Southgate, Gregory seems certain to turn to Calderwood and ask him to form a new central defensive pairing with former England international Ugo Ehiogu.

There will be late fitness checks on David James and Alan Wright before Villa name the side for tomorrow's Cup clash with Manchester United.

The former England international has missed Villa's last five games after being struck down by the recurrence of a knee ligament injury during last month's 3-1 defeat at Arsenal. James had hoped to make his return to action against his former club, Liverpool, at Villa Park in the team's previous match on October 2. But he was still being troubled by the knee when he was kicking the ball and Villa did not want to risk when he was not 100% fit for fear that he could suffer even more problems.

But the break from Premiership action due to last weekend's international matches has given James more time to make a return to full fitness. Providing he does prove his fitness, James will take over from Peter Enckleman as Villa seek to extend their unbeaten record at Villa Park this season.

While James is keen to return, left-back Alan Wright has hinted that he feels ready to make his comeback after a five match absence with groin and stomach problems. But the former Blackburn Rovers defender has revealed that he feels John Gregory might want to see him in reserve team action before giving him a first eleven comeback.

But in Wright's favour is the fact that Gareth Barry, who has been deputising at left-back, may be in need of a break after playing three games in quick succession for the England youth side.