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.
9. LM - Morgan Rogers
Rogers, a regular starter since joining in the winter, is likely to regain his place in the XI because Nicolo Zaniolo went off with a jarred back against Lille. | AFP via Getty Images
10. ST - Jhon Duran
Duran could be handed a surprise start with Rogers on the left and Zaniolo a doubt. Diaby is the other option but the Frenchman was so underwhelming last time out. | AFP via Getty Images
11. ST - Ollie Watkins
Watkins, with 26 goals across all competitions, is having his best season to date. Motivated to win the Golden Boot, he will want to pllay as many minutes as possible. | Getty Images