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The latest injury news and predicted starting eleven for Aston Villa as they prepare to host Premier League rivals Southampton.
Aston Villa head into Saturday’s home clash with Southampton looking to round off what has been a week of mixed fortunes.
Unai Emery’s men showed some hangover from a battling display in their Champions League draw with Serie A giants Juventus by falling to a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea as Nicolas Jackson, Enzo Fernandez and Cole Palmer all scored to ensure Villa left Stamford Bridge empty-handed.
However, there was a major upturn in performance in midweek as Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash found the net in a 3-1 win against a Brentford side that were sat above them in the Premier League table ahead of the Villa Park clash.
That means Emery’s side will know they could end the weekend in the top five if they can increase Southampton’s relegation worries by securing consecutive wins on home soil on Saturday afternoon. The former Arsenal and Sevilla boss has some major calls to make ahead of the game as he puts the final preparations together for the game. But what is the latest injury news and who could be handed a start at Villa Park?
Goalkeeper and defence
There were some concerns about Emi Martinez’s fitness when the World Cup-winning goalkeeper was replaced at half-time during last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Chelsea. However, those fears were calmed when the Villa number 23 took his place between the sticks for the midweek win against Brentford and there seems no reason why Martinez would be named in the starting eleven once again on Saturday. It also seems likely the four defenders that started in front of him will remain as they were against the Bees after Tyrone Mings returned to the side to help his side to all three points.
Midfield
Emery is awaiting good news on the fitness of former Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, who has not appeared for Villa since the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last month. After featuring for Belgium in their 1-0 defeat against Italy in a Nations League clash just days later, Onana has sat on the sidelines with an ankle injury. He was believed to be close to a return to action for Villa’s home clash with Brentford on Wednesday night - and will be checked once again ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Southampton. Jacob Ramsey seems certain to miss out as he continues his comeback from a thigh injury that has kept him out of Villa’s last three Premier League fixtures.
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Forwards
There has been a lot of talk of a start for Jhon Duran as the Colombia international still awaits his first Premier League start of the season. However, Ollie Watkins continues to lead the lead and he has two goals and one assist in his last three games to maintain his place as Emery’s number one front-man.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, Onana, Watkins.
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