Controversial change in defence as Emery drops ‘below-par’ 28-year-old - Aston Villa predicted XI vs Newcastle

Aston Villa return to Premier League action this Saturday evening for one of their most important fixtures of the season so far, against fellow top-five hopefuls Newcastle United.

On home soil again four days after the remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, Villa will be eager to carry on their momentum. That result midweek may not have been enough to progress to the final four in Europe but it will have instilled plenty of confidence within the group nonetheless.

That belief could be important this weekend as Newcastle, third in the Premier League, are in tremendous form. The Magpies have won each of their last five league outings and have scored 12 in their last three, most recently blowing Crystal Palace away by five goals to nil at St. James’ Park.

Villa will need to be at their absolute best to get anything against Newcastle, let alone a win, so Emery is likely to name a very strong lineup. There’s one less competition to think about now Villa are out of the Champions League, too, so there’s less need for rotation. There could still be the odd change, though, as Emery seeks to tactically outshine his opposite number.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Newcastle

With all of that in mind, here’s the starting XI we reckon Emery will name against the Magpies.

GK - Emi Martinez: The two-time Yashin Trophy winner will be eager to keep another shutout after a clean sheet in the 3-0 win away at Southampton last week.

RB - Axel Disasi: Having not featured at all in the second leg against PSG, Disasi will be raring to go. He’s most likely to play at right-back as Konsa is fit and available in the centre.

CB - Ezri Konsa: A scorer in Villa’s dramatic 3-2 comeback win over PSG on Tuesday, Konsa is one of the first names on the team sheet. The England international always delivers, whether he be at centre-back or right-back.

CB - Tyrone Mings: Controversial to include, perhaps, but Mings’ physicality up against Alexander Isak could be effective. Pau Torres, meanwhile, was disappointing against PSG in a rare below-par performance.

LB - Lucas Digne: Ahead of Ian Maatsen in the pecking order for important fixtures, Digne should get the nod again. It’s a difficult choice between the two, though, with Emery rotating often.

CM - Boubacar Kamara: Vital to Villa for his strength and command at the base of midfield, Kamara can expect to stay in the lineup ahead of Amadou Onana.

CM - Youri Tielemans: Thriving in the double pivot just as much as he was as a number 10, Tielemans has played more minutes than any other Villa player this season.

RM - Morgan Rogers: Undroppable on current form, not many players in world football can charge forward on the ball as well as Rogers does. Villa will need him at his best.

LM - Marcus Rashford: Emery hinted recently at playing Rashford and Watkins in the same team and so this could be the way, with the Man Utd loanee out on the left flank.

CAM - John McGinn: The skipper was in scintillating form against PSG and deserves to stay in the team, even if that means leaving Marco Asensio on the bench.

ST - Ollie Watkins: Frustrated by the lack of starts recently, Watkins needs to get the nod soon otherwise there’s a risk he could develop serious concerns and want to leave the club.