'Extremely close' - Aston Villa injury news vs Newcastle as Steven Gerrard handed boost

Aston Villa return to action when they travel to Newcastle United today (2pm).

Villa will be hoping to get back to winning ways after blowing a chance to make it back-to-back victories in midweek when Leeds United came from 3-1 down to draw at Villa Park.

Steven Gerrard has seen his Villa side's form improve since three consecutive defeats from December into the new year punctuated a good start to life in the dugout at B6.

But two draws and a win from games against Manchester United, Everton and Leeds are good results, and a run of matches against relegation battlers and mid-table teams in Newcastle, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton represents a real chance for progression up the Premier League table.

Villa are almost back to full strength, with Marvelous Nakamba the only long-term absentee as he continues his recovery from surgery on a knee injury sustained in December but Bertrand Traore is out with a new hamstring problem.

Elsewhere Leon Bailey is almost back fit after a two-and-a-half-month lay-off with a thigh injury.

Emiliano Buendia could be out, though, after suffering a bruised hip during the Leeds game, while Philippe Coutinho is expected to play against Newcastle after cramping up in midweek.

Here's the latest Villa injury news...

: Knee.

: April.

: Nakamba had been in fine form since Gerrard's arrival in November but picked up an injury against Liverpool on December 11 that required surgery.

: "With Nakamba, he'll be back fit soon so we'll assess it as we go along."

: Thigh.

: Anytime now.

: Bailey was visibly upset when he was substituted from the Manchester City game at the start of December.

: "The exciting thing for me is that Leon is now extremely close to fitness as well."

: Hip.

: