Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up could look for the clash.
Villa will be looking to make it four consecutive wins across all competitions as we’ve found some form in recent weeks after a poor run prior to that, having gone without a victory in eight.
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There were certainly more positive signs in midweek in our 3-2 win over RB Leipzig from an attacking perspective, but Emery will be fully aware of the need to tighten up defensively still, as we continue to make poor mistakes at the back that are being punished.
With Forest flying high so far this season too as they’ve been in great form, this promises to be a difficult challenge, and so ideally, we’ll have as close to a fully-fit squad as possible to give us the best chance of coming away with a positive outcome.
Mings, Duran to come into Villa line-up, doubt over Watkins
Emiliano Martinez will continue in goal, but there will be an intriguing wait to see if Emery sticks with the system that worked so well during the week, or if he reverts back to a more familiar system which sees us go back to a more orthodox back-four.
That could see Ezri Konsa stay at right-back with Diego Carlos in the middle, and while Lucas Digne should fend off Ian Maatsen to keep his spot, this could be a game for Tyrone Mings to come back into the Villa XI and add some steeliness and physicality in our backline.
Given the form of Chris Wood and the pace and creativity in the Forest attack, that defence could give us the best chance of keeping things tight, and giving ourselves a foundation to go on and win the game.
Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans will continue in the midfield pivot, albeit both Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana are likely pushing to break into the side, but they could be forced to wait for Emery to rotate over the Christmas schedule where fatigue will become a more prominent factor.
John McGinn, Morgan Rogers and possibly Jaden Philogene could form our attacking trident behind the frontman, although there will hopefully be good news on Leon Bailey who missed out in midweek due to injury, with Emery suggesting prior to the game in Leipzig that the Jamaican international may be in contention this weekend.
That said, Matty Cash appeared to relish the chance to play in a more advanced position on the right side earlier this week, and with that system and structure working so effectively, it could be worth sticking with it and playing him ahead of Konsa on that flank.
Similarly to Bailey though, the Villa boss may well avoid taking any risks with Ollie Watkins, who faces a late fitness test in training on Friday to determine if he has recovered sufficiently from the issue that forced him off at half-time in Germany on Tuesday night.
While the good news is that it doesn’t sound serious as he’s pushing to be involved on Saturday, the risk of aggravating the problem by rushing it coupled with Jhon Duran’s form so far this season with his 10 goals in 21 appearances, arguably makes it a more sensible decision to go with the latter.
Although there are a couple of absentees due to injury, we’re in relatively good shape going into the weekend, and it’s hoped that plays an important part in Villa securing all three points at the City Ground.
Agree with the Villa XI below, or would you make any changes?