McLeish has no doubts about duo

Alex McLeish is happy to put his faith in Emile Heskey and Carlos Cuellar against Bolton, despite both being out of contract in June.

Striker Heskey, 34, is poised to lead the attack at Villa Park if captain Gabriel Agbonlahor fails to recover from a shoulder problem. Cuellar is required to fill the gap at the back left by the absence of central defender James Collins through a groin problem. McLeish said: "It depends on Gabby, but Emile would come right into the thinking. He's admired by all his team-mates. His team-mates love him, and love him playing in the team, because they know he's going to work his socks off for the cause and he's going to create chances for them. "He's capable of scoring as well when he's playing in his favourite position of centre forward. I think Michael Owen said he was the best partner he ever played with. "It's the same scenario with someone like Carlos. The thing about guys like that is that they have total commitment to any particular task that they have to undertake."