Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest as Unai Emery conducts Youri Tielemans ‘experiment’

Aston Villa return to home soil as they play host to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Buoyant after returning to winning ways away at Fulham last weekend, Unai Emery's men have the opportunity to further increase their buffer to rivals in the fight for UEFA Champions League qualification.

More and more pressure is building on every league played as the Premier League edges closer to its May conclusion. The Villans have earned 49 points in 25 games so far but the 13 matches that remain are the most important. As it stands, Tottenham Hotspur are two points behind in fifth and Manchester United trail by five points in sixth.

Winning against Forest would go a long way for Villa and their confidence as the last three fixtures at Villa Park have ended in defeat. It feels strange to say as Villa were scarily impressive on home soil earlier in the season but an end must come to their current rot otherwise Man Utd and Tottenham will make up ground very quickly.

Forest head into this one on the back of a crucial 2-0 win against West Ham United, a result that moved them four points above the drop. Nuno Espirito Santo's men have plenty more to do before they can be considered safe, however, so they'll be just as desperate for a positive result this weekend as Villa.

Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Nottingham Forest

Emery has his fair share of limitations for his team selection, especially in midfield and defence, as there are a host of long-term injury absentees. Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos are the closest to coming back but even they are a few weeks out. As a result, we will see less rotation than usual over the coming matches.

GK - Emi Martinez

Martinez is without doubt the number one choice goalkeeper at the club and would fit straight into most XIs across Europe, let alone just in the Premier League.

RB - Matty Cash

Cash has been enjoying some regular game time recently. This will continue with Ezri Konsa expected out for another week or two yet.

CB - Pau Torres

Pau returned to the starting lineup for the first time in several weeks against Fulham. Villa look so much more assured defensively when the Spaniard is in the team.

CB - Clement Lenglet

Lenglet was first brought into the XI to help out when Pau Torres was injured but he remains even after Pau’s return as Konsa and Diego Carlos are both out.

LB - Àlex Moreno

Moreno will be looking over his shoulder now Lucas Digne is back but he stays in the XI for now. He was unlucky not to score against Fulham with a very tight offside call.

RM - Leon Bailey

The Jamaican is in excellent form and was recently rewarded with a new contract. He should continue to play ahead of Moussa Diaby.

CM - John McGinn

McGinn is the man filling the deep-lying midfield role in Boubacar Kamara’s absence, though Tim Iroegbunam could soon be chosen based on Emery’s comments.

CM - Douglas Luiz

Luiz has proven to be one of the best midfielders in the entire Premier League this campaign. Let’s see how he does without Kamara for the long-term.

LM - Jacob Ramsey

Ramsey has impressed in recent weeks and he looks fully back up to speed following a host of injuries. Fingers crossed that trajectory can proceed.

ST (shadow) - Youri Tielemans

Emery has experimented with Tielemans in a shadow striker role this season and that is likely to carry on with the Belgian in top form.

ST - Ollie Watkins

Watkins, with 13 goals and 14 assists in 25 games, has been one of the Premier League’s best players this season.