Stephen Froggatt returns to Aston Villa as a Premiership player for first time on Saturday knowing he has to destroy his former club’s title hopes to help save his current employers from further relegation trouble.

Coventry slipped into the bottom three with their 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Saturday while Villa have faltered in their championship challenge.

There is also another incentive for the 25-year-old midfielder – Coventry have never won a league match on their rivals’ ground.

He said:

"It is a very big game for both teams. Villa have slipped up in the last few games so they need the points. We have slipped into the bottom three so we badly need a win as well.

"Its not my first time back to Villa Park, I played there for Wolves against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. I am looking forward to going back but just concentrating on getting the three points for us.

"I made my debut against them earlier in the season but this is my first time back there against them. It’s going to be an exciting game and I think it will be one for the both fans to enjoy.

"It’s about six years since I left Villa Park. I was just a kid of 19 at the time and I didn’t leave on bad terms so I would like to think I would get a half-decent reception from them, but you never know.

"In the last four years playing for Wolves we played badly quite a few times but ended up winning games because the opposition wasn’t that great. But the fact we have played as well as we have in recent weeks but are where we are proves what a very tough division it is.

""We were unlucky against Manchester United and we were distraught after they scored in the last few minutes but he manager has said we have to stay mentally strong. He has been happy with the performances and we have just got to keep digging in."

The match also marks Dion Dublin’s first game against Coventry – the club he left to join Villa for £5.75 million earlier this season.

Froggatt added: