Aston Villa must change their competition focus yet again as Unai Emery’s men play host to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this Sunday.
The Villans will be exhausted having gone the distance in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final but Emery is bound to use his no-excuse culture to fire up his squad ahead of another vital encounter.
Bournemouth, 13th in the Premier League standings and just two points outside the top half following three wins in their last five, will be full of confidence after a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last week. Andoni Iraola has the Cherries playing terrific football and their fresh legs could cause all sorts of problems for a fatigued Villa defence.
Emery is likely to rotate his lineup a little but there’s only so much he can do with several players out injured and others inexperienced. There’s no choice but to dig in at this crucial tail-end of the season, with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur hot on the men in claret and blue’s tracks.
Including the benching of an underwhelming summer signing and the surprise inclusion of a physical and determined attacker, here’s the starting lineup we predict Emery will name at Villa Park.
5. LB - Lucas Digne
Digne is another playing a lot of football and that will continue as Alex Moreno is sidelined. The Frenchman will be tested to the limits. | Getty Images
6. RM - Leon Bailey
Bailey was benched initially in Lille but excelled as a substitute, providing Villa with attacking impetus. Moussa Diaby, meanwhile, has seen his form decline again. | Getty Images
7. CM - John McGinn
McGinn featured just off the striker midweek but Douglas Luiz being banned for this means the skipper will likely drop deeper. | Getty Images
8. CM - Youri Tielemans
Tielemans has put in some tremendous shifts for the Villans lately and Emery will want more of the same. The Belgian is such a workhorse. | Getty Images