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SirStanleyBowles- 10-23-2008
Aston Villa v AjaxAston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has few selection problems for the visit of Ajax in their opening Group F match.
Long-term casualty Wilfred Bouma is the only player unavailable, while Nicky Shorey plays at left back after missing out against Portsmouth on Saturday.
Gareth Barry will compete with Nigel Reo-Coker and Stiliyan Petrov for a spot in the midfield.
Marco van Basten's Ajax will be in good spirits after defeating Groningen 1-0 in the Dutch league at the weekend.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "It's absolutely great for the football club, but we should not be found wanting from European experience because we have got plenty of that in the mature players.
"It is a big occasion for us. I am hoping this is the start of some really decent European nights for the forseeable future - not just this year but something that we want to bring to the club long-term."
Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Cuellar, Knight, Laursen, Shorey, Milner, Barry, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Gardner, Carew, Agbonlahor, Harewood, Guzan, Sidwell, Routledge, Osbourne.
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