Updates for Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings before Aston Villa take on Ipswich Town and Liverpool.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has confirmed Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings will both feature in the matchday squad against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

The two Englishmen had a stretch on the sidelines through injury but are now back in contention to start for what is seen as a must-win Premier League encounter. Watkins and Mings are also likely to feature against Liverpool next Wednesday, unless they pick up fresh issues this weekend of course.

"Still out for tomorrow is Cash, Pau, Konsa, Onana and Barkley," Emery admitted during his Ipswich pre-match press conference. "Mings and Ollie Watkins have trained this morning with the group and they are in the squad,” he added.

Many Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers were sweating on the fitness of Watkins as he missed the 2-1 FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend but he’s been in training all week. BirminghamWorld understands the estimated timescale for his return - worked out after the 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers - was 10 days and he’s successfully recovered in that period.

Those who play FPL will be keen to retain or transfer in Watkins as he has two matches within a single gameweek, with the hosting of Liverpool to come on Wednesday. The Ipswich tie is likelier to bring goals or assists but anything is possible against the Reds if Villa are on song.

It feels a little harsh to drop Donyell Malen to the bench this weekend but Watkins is without doubt the first-choice striker. Marcus Rashford is an alternative but Emery prefers the on-loan Manchester United man just off the left. On that point, it could be tricky for Rashford to make the left wing spot his own as Jacob Ramsey is in fine form.

Watkins may be the more star name out of the two but Mings returning is also a huge boost. Boubacar Kamara has had to play in an auxiliary centre-back role recently as Mings and Pau Torres have both been out. Mings can now come into the team to allow Kamara to feature in his more natural position.

For a full run-through of how Villa may line up against Ipswich, including the dilemmas involving Rashford and Marco Asensio, read on for BirminghamWorld’s predicted XI.