Andy Carroll and Manu Lanzini are this morning being reported as facing late fitness tests ahead of the Villa game but the Irons still face being without six players.
Carroll will test his abductor muscle ahead of the game but the manager has hinted he’s set to miss the match with Lanzini more likely to return against Southampton.
With two games in three days the boss will take no chances but, as they say, where there’s life there’s hope.
Dimitri Payet (ankle) – is set to return against Liverpool on January 2 – Winston Reid, Victor Moses (both hamstring) and Diafra Sakho will not be fit in time.
Enner Valencia and Nikica Jelavic are vying for a spot in attack but James Collins should keep his place in defence.
Provisional squad: Adrian, Randolph, Jenkinson, Tomkins, Collins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Obiang, Zarate, Ogbonna, Valencia, Carroll, Jelavic, Antonio, Cullen, Oxford.