Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has warned his players to beware a wounded West Ham at Upton Park on Wednesday night.

Villa travel to East London knowing that a win would move them up to fourth in the table.

They are facing a West Ham side whose solitary Premier League victory came on the opening day of the season when they beat top-flight new boy Wolves.

They have lost five of their subsequent nine games to lie second from bottom - and threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 at Sunderland last weekend.

But O'Neill has seen more than enough of Gianfranco Zola's side this season to recognise they will be a real threat to his team.

He watched them numerous times when he made his move to sign central defender James Collins, who will return to Upton Park at the heart of the Villa backline.

O'Neil said: "Am I surprised by the start they have made? I would have expected them to have more points.

"I have seen them quite a few times this season. I was obviously looking when there was a possibility that James Collins would be available so I saw them early season.

"I might have seen West Ham four times this season against Tottenham, Blackburn, Manchester City and Arsenal.

"I would think they should have more points on the board but I thought their fight-back against Arsenal was fantastic.

"So back at Upton Park I would expect them to be a really tough test."

O'Neill could recall striker John Carew to the starting line-up after he came off the bench at Everton last weekend to grab Villa's equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

It was Carew's first league goal of the season and O'Neill hopes he can build on that.

O'Neill added: "That goal will do John the world of good. I just think getting goals for a centre forward is brilliant news."

While Carew could come in, it is who O'Neill could be without at Upton Park that is at the centre of his thoughts.

O'Neill does have some serious selection problems for the clash as right-back Carlos Cuellar is suspended after being sent-off at Everton last weekend.

Midfielders Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner, who suffered shin and calf problems respectively at Goodison Park are doubts.

It is the potential loss of Petrov and Milner that is causing O'Neill

most concern and he said: "Stiliyan is sore. I will give him every

opportunity to recover but James is extremely doubtful.

"He was feeling very tight after last week's Carling Cup tie at Sunderland. It seemed to recur and it was hindering in the first-half at Everton.

"Hopefully with the strength in depth that we have players can come in and do well.

"But being without Stiliyan and James would be a serious loss to our midfield."

In a further blow for Petrov, he is also set to find himself picking up a delayed booking from the clash at Everton.

Full-back Stephen Warnock was booked but referee Lee Probert has accepted that was a case of mistaken identity as it was Petrov who should have been cautioned.

O'Neill revealed: "The referee has accepted that he got the identification wrong so Stephen Warnock will get the rescinded.

"If it is mistaken identity sometimes it gets handed on and I assume it will go on to Stiliyan. Tough luck Stiliyan!"