Unai Emery to axe Moussa Diaby and Matty Cash, Leander Dendoncker to be given first start – Aston Villa predicted XI v Sheffield United.
Unai Emery could be set to make as many as five Aston Villa changes for Friday’s Premier League clash against Sheffield United at Villa Park (22 December).
The Villans could find themselves at the top of the Premier League table by the end of Friday (22 December) when they host the struggling Blades at Villa Park.
A win over Chris Wilder’s men could see Aston Villa make it 16 successive home victories at Villa Park but Emery faces several selection dilemmas for the game with numerous injury doubts and suspensions.
Boubacar Kamara won’t be available until the new year following his violent conduct red card against Brentford last weekend so he may well be replaced by Leander Dendoncker in midfield.
Pau Torres is a doubt for the game, according to Injury Expert Ben Dinnery (18 December) after a knock picked up at Brentford.
Also, Youri Tielemans is also a doubt which could well see Emery make as many as five changes for the game.
In goal, Emiliano Martinez should keep his place although the Argentinian shot-stopper should count himself incredibly fortunate not to have been sent off like Kamara following his strange and forceful antics with Brentford striker Neal Maupay.
In defence, Emery went with a 3-man defensive lineup with Matty Cash and Alex Moreno as wing-backs but the Spaniard should go back to type against Sheffield United but axe the former after another disappointing display on Sunday.
As per SofaScore, Cash was again handed the worst average rating of any Aston Villa player to start the game at 6.4/10, completing zero per cent of his crosses, and long balls and winning 50 per cent of his total duels.
The former Nottingham Forest defender also failed to register a single key pass, lost possession of the ball 12 times and won just one tackle before being hooked off after 65 minutes.
Ezri Konsa should start at right-back while Diego Carlos keeps his place at centre-back but Emery has a critical dilemma in the form of Torres who picked up a knock against Brentford and the Spaniard could be replaced by Clement Lenglet for his first start of the season.
As per SofaScore, Lenglet has started all five of their Europa Conference League games so far this season, recording 92.8 touches per game, completing 95 per cent of his passes, recording 0.4 key passes from centre-back, averaging 1.2 tackles per game, 5.4 balls recovered, completing 100 per cent of his dribbles and 64 per cent of his total duels.
The Frenchman is certainly more than capable of holding his own at left centre-back.
At left-back Moreno could well keep his place at the expense of Lucas Digne after an impressive display on Sunday, scoring the crucial equaliser with a header but also completing 100% of his long balls, 50 per cent of his dribble attempts, completing 88 per cent of his passes, registering four clearances and winning four duels.
In midfield, Emery admitted that Leon Bailey suffered a knock against Brentford but should be ready enough to start and continue his rapid form of late where he’s registered two goals and two assists from his last five appearances [SofaScore].
At the heart of midfield, Douglas Luiz will be welcomed back with open arms from suspension but will see his trusted midfield partner absent after Kamara picked up a red card last weekend so Leander Dendoncker could well be handed the chance to start, with Tielemans an injury doubt.
The Belgian was handed a rare start against Zrinjski Mostar in the Europa Conference League last week and was particularly tidy, completing 92 per cent of his passes, 66 per cent of his long balls, and 66 per cent of his aerial duels.
On the left flank, John McGinn should continue in his unique position for Aston Villa but Emery could well keep Jacob Ramsey in the eleven at the expense of Moussa Diaby who was again abject last weekend.
Emery signed the Frenchman for his attacking influence but has failed to show it in recent games with one goal and one assist in his nine games [SofaScore].
Jacob Ramsey should start in behind Ollie Watkins who kept up his tremendous streak for Aston Villa bagging the winner against the Bees and his ninth Premier League goal.
In other Aston Villa news, Ian Wright has waxed lyrical over a first-team player and has dubbed him “fantastic” after what he did recently.
