Villa v Norwich team news: Benteke, Herd and Albrighton get the nod

By Dan Harrison at Villa Park

Christian Benteke, Marc Albrighton and Chris Herd have been given the nod for today's clash against Norwich City, with Paul Lambert making three changes to his starting XI.

Benteke, Albrighton and Herd come in for Darren Bent, Stephen Ireland and the injured Nathan Baker.

It is a second start of the season for Herd - his first coming in the 3-1 defeat to Everton in August.

Matt Lowton is expected to fill in at centre-back with Baker [ankle], Ciaran Clark [knee] and Richard Dunne [groin] all sidelined.

Norwich are unchanged from last weekend's 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

Anthony Pilkington, who opened the scoring in this fixture last season, starts the match while their other scorer from that day Steve Morison is on the bench.

VILLA: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar (c), Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Herd, Albrighton, Holman, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Given, Bent, Westwood, Lichaj, Bannan, Ireland, Weimann.

NORWICH: Ruddy, Martin, Johnson, Bassong, Turner, Holt (c), Pilkington, Hoolahan, E Bennett, Garrido, Tettey. Subs: Rudd, Snodgrass, Howson, Jackson, Morison, Barnett, R Bennett.

Aston Villa v Norwich City