Aston Villa are finally back in action as we prepare to face West Ham Utd on Sunday, and here is how Unai Emery’s starting line-up could look.
It’s been a long old wait given we were last on the pitch on October 8, but with the international break finally concluded, we have a tough assignment ahead of us in the form of the Hammers, who sit just two points adrift of us in the Premier League table.
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In turn, not only will we have to be at our best this weekend to get the desired result, but Emery will be hoping for positive news on the injury front to have as close to a fully-fit squad available as possible.
We’ll of course know more following his pre-match press conference on Friday, but for now, there hasn’t been much indication that we can expect Alex Moreno or Jacob Ramsey to be back in contention to start on Sunday, and so the expectation is that they’ll miss out as they continue their respective recoveries from injury setbacks.
As per Tom Collomosse, Nicolo Zaniolo is back at Bodymoor Heath and training with the squad amid an ongoing alleged betting investigation having returned early from international duty with Italy last week, but it remains to be seen if the 24-year-old is in the right frame of mind to feature without the off-the-pitch distractions impacting his performance on it.
That’ll be an important decision for Emery to make, and there’s another big call in defence given the competition for places.
Emiliano Martinez will no doubt take his place between the posts having continued to keep clean sheets and break records with Argentina over the break, and it’s hoped that he can transfer that form over to club level and help us to secure a shut-out on Sunday.
Even if he is fit to feature, it’s highly unlikely Moreno walks straight back into the side and so Lucas Digne will continue at left-back, but Emery has options at his disposal to complete the backline.
Does he go with a Pau Torres and Diego Carlos partnership, with Ezri Konsa at right-back? Or will Torres and Konsa partner up and Matty Cash reverts back to his right-back role having been more advanced last time out?
Given we’re at home, perhaps the Villa boss will go with a more expansive and attacking option with Cash on the right, but it’s easy to see him going the other way with it too if it gives us that additional defensive solidity and balance against a dangerous West Ham attack.
In midfield, Leon Bailey, Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz and John McGinn seem the logical quartet if Zaniolo isn’t judged to be ready to start, while Moussa Diaby will provide support behind Ollie Watkins in attack, as the Villa frontman looks to build on his positive outing with England over the break.
Villa will have depth on the bench to change things if necessary, while it’s hoped that after logging back-to-back 60-minute run-outs for the U21s over the past fortnight, we’ll see Tim Iroegbunam return to the senior squad this weekend as he looks to push on and carve out a role in Emery’s plans moving forward.
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs West Ham: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres, Digne; Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins.
Any changes to this Villa XI vs West Ham?