Aston Villa starting XI vs Wolves predicted as Unai Emery faces two big decisions amid injury update.
Tomorrow, Aston Villa plays Wolves at Villa Park in the Premier League. They want to get their fourth win of the season. West Midlands foes Wolves come to Villa Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off) to play Aston Villa. They are trying to become the fourth team in Premier League history to win four of their first five games of the season.
They have won three straight games in all tournaments, beating Leicester City, Everton, and BSC Young Boys before the international break in September.
The win in Switzerland makes it easier for Villa to play Bayern Munich and Bologna at home in the Champions League next week. However, for now, the team is focused on their local games. Of Wolves’ last five away league games against Villa, they’ve only lost one.
That loss was in this very same game last year. Since the start of March, Wolves have lost more games than any other Premier League team. They’ve also won fewer games and gained fewer points than any other ever present side in that time.
Gary O’Neil said that this weekend’s trip to Villa Park will be “another big test” for his team. In the first four league games this season, they’ve already played Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle United.
Wolves haven’t won a league game yet this season, and they lost to Brighton in the Carabao Cup last week. Villa could get a boost from right back Matty Cash’s return on Saturday. Cash was back on the pitch on Thursday. Emery will give an update on the full-back’s progress from injury in today’s news conference at Bodymoor Heath.
Leon Bailey came back to the Villa team this week for their Champions League game against Young Boys, but Jaden Philogene didn’t make the trip. The Jamaica international could start for Villa given that he hasn’t played since picking up a hamstring injury in the win at Leicester.
If he does, then it would leave Jacob Ramsey vulnerable in the side, but the 23-year-old enjoyed his best performance for a long time in the win at the Wankdorf Stadium last time out following a season of problems with injury.
Emery has plenty of choices, which can only be a good thing. Ollie Watkins is likely to lead the line with Morgan Rogers supporting him. Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans should also continue in middle, with Ross Barkley in reserve on the bench. The 30-year-old made a key impact off the bench last weekend, helping Villa control the game against Everton.
Emery is yet to hand a start to Ian Maatsen, so Lucas Digne is likely to remain at left-back, while Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa are expected to play at centre-back, especially if Cash is fit enough to play from the off. Young defender Lamare Bogarde was replaced by Diego Carlos at half-time on Tuesday night, which meant Konsa moved across to right-back.
Predicted Villa XI vs Wolves: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins.
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