Aston Villa’s long-term injury victims, Martin Laursen and Wilfred Bouma, are both closing in on returns and look set to offer us a handy end of season differential.

Bouma is back in reserve team action could tentatively be pencilled in for a first-term return in the next fortnight, while skipper Laursen is being lined up for a comeback from his knee injury against United on April 5.

Both would seem likely of starts in the Villa defence once fit, with Luke Young still deployed at left-back for O’Neill. Their returns should substantially strengthen the Villa defence and one glance at their closing fixtures over the last six gameweeks (WHM bol HUL ful mid NEW) appears to make them very attractive signings….

Laursen has huge potential not just as a clean-sheet fetcher but as a major threat from set-plays. He is also a huge points scorer in the Guardian game and a significant bonus point magnet in the FPL – he still ranks third overall for bonus points amongst FPL defenders.

The Danish defender sits at 6.0 in the FPL – a potential bargain. Bouma meanwhile, would make an excellent budget purchase at just 4.8 – although Luke Young’s presence in the side at 4.7 somewhat nullifies his appeal.