Aston Villa host Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting XI could look for the clash.
The Villa boss opted to make changes in midweek as we defeated AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League, with the likes of Clement Lenglet, Diego Carlos and Youri Tielemans coming in for rare starts.
READ MORE: Villa team news vs Fulham: Emery provides update on key trio
While it paid off and that trio all impressed in our 2-1 win, it’s unlikely that they will keep their respective places in the Villa XI this weekend, as we go back to a full-strength side.
As per Emery in his pre-match press conference, Carlos could miss the encounter altogether having picked up a knock in the latter stages on Thursday night, while Lenglet has yet to feature in the Premier League this season.
Conversely, Tielemans is starting to impress now on a more consistent basis, and so perhaps we could fit him into the starting XI in a way that also accommodates our first-choice pairing in midfield.
There should be no surprises between the posts though with Emiliano Martinez continuing, but with Carlos likely to be ruled out, that should see Matty Cash come back in to replace him, with Ezri Konsa shifting back across into a central role.
Pau Torres is expected to come in for Lenglet with Lucas Digne continuing at left-back, but Villa do have the bonus of Alex Moreno now being ready to feature again after his lengthy injury layoff.
In midfield, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara will keep their starting berths, but both Douglas Luiz and Nicolo Zaniolo could return to the line-up by displacing Tielemans and Leon Bailey respectively, in a familiar looking set-up that we’ve seen consistently in the league so far this season.
That in turn will see Moussa Diaby supporting Ollie Watkins in the final third, and so it’s potentially back to our most balanced XI, which has featured regularly in this campaign thus far.
As always, Emery will assess the opposition meticulously and may well have a surprise for us if he feels another player can give us something in the game to provide an edge, but the side below does seem the most likely Villa starting XI for this weekend.
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs Fulham: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Zaniolo; Diaby, Watkins.
Any changes that you would make? Tielemans to keep his place?