Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed Darren Bent will be fit for the opening game with Fulham.
Striker ready for Craven Cottage clash
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has confirmed Darren Bent will be fit for his side's opening day clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The 27-year-old striker pulled out of the England squad this week with a shoulder problem.
However, McLeish has confirmed he has recovered sufficiently enough to be named in the squad for Saturday along with another injury doubt, defender James Collins.
"Bent is fine with his shoulder. At this moment there are no injuries to shout about. We have almost everyone available," said he Scot
"Collins was struggling with his back but the doctor injected him and took some blood out of a lump at the base of his back.
Discomfort
"He was in a lot of discomfort and it was right he should pull out of the midweek game for his country.
"But we believe he will be ready for the weekend."
McLeish also agreed with the decision not to call off the game in the wake of the London riots that claimed England's friendly with Holland on Wednesday as well as several other Carling Cup games.
"I understand that calm has been restored," added the Scot.
"Unless anything major happens over the next few days we're confident the game will go ahead, I understand the Spurs game being called off after what happened there last weekend."
