Aston Villa return home to face bottom-place West Ham United in game week four of the Premier League. Let’s take a look at the all important team news heading into the fixture.
ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS
Off the back of a disappointing collapse away to Crystal Palace last Saturday and a midweek victory over League One side Bolton Wanderers, Aston Villa have but few concerns in regards to injury or suspensions.
The sole absentee for the game is Brazilian defender Diego Carlos. The 29 year-old suffered a rupture to his Achilles Tendon during the closing minutes of The Villans’ only victory in the league so far against Everton. The former Sevilla centre-half faces upwards of 7 months out, and it is believed that the club remain in pursuit of a replacement before the ongoing window shuts.
Names such as Jan Bednarek and PSG’s Abdou Diallo are the latest players to have been linked to the claret and blue team. Kortney Hause recently sealed a loan move to EFL Championship side Watford, leaving Gerrard’s squad short of central defenders. Only Tyrone Mings, Calum Chambers and Ezri Konsa are feasible options in the respective position, and so it is likely that we will see a new player through the doors within the next week.
Joining Hause out of the club is winger Bertrand TraorΓ©, who joins Turkish outfit Δ°stanbul BaΕakΕehir for the remainder of the term. The 26 year-old has rarely featured under current boss Steven Gerrard, and so a move away was always the likely outcome. Elsewhere, young left-back Ben Chrisene has joined Scottish side Kilmarnock for the season. The 18 year-old will gain valuable experience at his new club, gearing him up for an attempt amongst the first team ranks next campaign.
Aside from this however, Aston Villa will have a fully fit squad to take on David Moyes’ West Ham. Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be looking to use Tuesday night’s impressive victory as momentum heading into Sunday’s game. Can Villa secure their second triumph of the season at Villa Park, or will The Hammers pile on the pressure?
WEST HAM TEAM NEWS
West Ham head to the West Midlands this weekend winless and without having scored a goal in the league. The East-London outfit also carry midweek momentum into the fixture however, having beat Danish side Viborg FF in this season’s UEFA Conference League qualifying round. Moyes’ side were victorious across the two legs by an aggregate score of 6-1, but do appear to be missing a few names as league action beckons.
Summer signing Nayef Aguerd will miss the upcoming game and around three months worth of action after suffering an ankle injury in a pre-season fixture against Glasgow Rangers. The Moroccan international defender joined the club for a reported Β£30 million at the beginning of the transfer window, but The Irons will be without his services until the end of October at the latest, despite recent “successful surgery”.
Aguerd endured a successful season with Stade Rennais last year, and his quality will certainly be beneficial to his new side. Also joining the club this window is goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, defender Thilo Kehrer, Chelsea’s Emerson, midfielder Flynn Downes, Burnley’s Maxwell Cornet and Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca.
The Irons also appear light in the defensive department as duo Craig Dawson and Vladimir Coufal are doubts for the weekend. Dawson made it into last season’s UEFA Europa League Team of the Season, but has missed the first few games of the new term with a thigh injury. The 32 year-old could make the matchday squad this week, though is a little way off starting.
Coufal meanwhile suffered a concussion during The Hammers’ latest defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, and also missed the trip to Denmark on Thursday. It is believed that the Czech full-back will make a full return this weekend, but a start is thought to be unlikely. Youngster Ben Johnson replaced the 30 year-old deep into the second half, and is set to start Sunday’s fixture at right-back.
Aside from this however, David Moyes has a fully fit squad to take to Villa Park. The likes of Declan Rice, Kurt Zouma and Jarrod Bowen are all in like for a start, as the Scottish boss looks to pick up his first few points of the campaign.
PREDICTED LINEUP
Last week’s predicted line-up could not have gone better – a perfect score of 11/11! I’m hoping to do the same this week, but the task is set to be a difficult one, given the apparent necessity for change. The defeat at Selhurst Park last week was a painful watch. There were weaknesses all over the pitch, and despite a cup victory in the week, it is clear that the side needs to be altered.
I believe we may seem Ezri Konsa withdrawn from the team after the defender was given a torrid time up against Wilfried Zaha last week. The only plausible replacement is that of Calum Chambers, and after a decent showing against Bolton, I think we’ll see him come into the starting line-up.
Also impressing was Douglas Luiz, and I would like to see him from the get-go this Sunday. A large majority of the midfield struggled last time out, and I would enjoy to see the Brazilian No.6 starting alongside Boubacar Kamara.
Most of the success under Steven Gerrard has come when Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings have started as a forward partnership. As a result, I think we’ll see the pair begin the game together, with either Philippe Coutinho or Emiliano BuendΓa behind the duo.
Below is the exact team I have chosen for Sunday’s big game at Villa Park – do you agree with my selection? You can have a go at choosing your line-up by accessing the following link: https://utvpodcast.co.uk/line-up-selector/. Be sure to share your prediction online too by clicking the Twitter icon in the top corner of the image.
AUTHOR | LIAM DAVIES
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive liamayrtondavies – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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