GERRY Taggart will be aiming to put six months of frustration behind him at Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Northern Ireland international, who has not started a game since October 26, is set to take over from the suspended Andy Todd as Wanderers face a "do or die" survival scrap.

Todd, who was sent off with Stan Collymore after a punch up when the teams met at the Reebok on October 4, sits out the Villa Park crunch after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the last minute of the 2-1 victory over Blackburn on Easter Saturday.

Taggart, who is destined to leave Wanderers on a free at the end of the season after rejecting a new contract offer, is likely to get the nod ahead of Chris Fairclough for a game Wanderers know they must win to keep alive their slender hopes of avoiding the drop.

His last start came when he helped Wanderers to a 1-0 home win against Chelsea. He then served a six-match suspension for red and yellow card offences and, apart from an abortive five minute stint as substitute against Barnsley on Boxing Day, he hasn't figured at senior level since.

Groin and ankle injuries have delayed his return and cost him his place in the last two Northern Ireland internationals. But he confirmed his fitness in a couple of recent reserve team outings and was on the subs' bench for the Leeds game last weekend.

Colin Todd is hoping Per Frandsen and Mark Fish return fit and well from international duty before he names his side for the Villa game.

Frandsen is due back today from Copenhagen, where Denmark were beaten 2-0 last night by Norway. Fish has been with the South African squad for a two-day get-together in Zurich.

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