Aston Villa face Brentford in the Carabao Cup third round clash at the Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday evening (8pm kick-off)
Our dedicated Aston Villa reporter is always on the pulse of all things claret and blue, from major talking points to transfer news to match action, John Townley will bring you the very latest from Bodymoor Heath and Villa Park.
Harvey Elliott
Harvey Elliott(Image: Getty Images)
Unai Emery takes Aston Villa to Brentford tomorrow not just looking to make the first step along the road that leads to the Carabao Cup final, nor even to a first win of the season - but to an opening goal of the campaign.
Much has been made of Villa's drought, one which extends through the first four Premier League matches of this season and to the final game of last term.
All of which amounts to 467 minutes since Boubacar Kamara found the back of Tottenham's net and a time when Ange Postecoglou was in charge of the Londoners and they hadn't won a trophy in 17 years. Things change fast.
Emery will be desperate for that to be the case at the Gtech Community Stadium with what he has already admitted will be a changed XI for the first of three successive midweek fixtures.
VIlla have six games to play in three different competitions between now and the international break and an opportunity to rotate will not be passed up.
That should infuse a relatively low-priority League Cup tie with a bit of glitz with loanees Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho in line for their first starts since deadline day transfers from Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
The talented duo could take the wing berths in Emery's customary 4-2-3-1 set-up, with changes in every department.
Elliott's technical ability is well-established and he was one of the shining lights of England Under-21s' defence of their European title. Sancho has undoubted talent, restoring the wide-man to his Borussia Dortmund pomp could be Emery's finest work.
While Emi Martinez has made a much-heralded return to the fold Marco Bizot will have earmarked this game as one for him, albeit in front of an unfamilar defence.
Matty Cash could retain his right back berth, although Emery might be tempted to rest a player who picked up a knock on Poland duty last week. Ian Maatsen is surely due a start as the opposite full back. That leaves Pau Torres and Victor Lindelof at the heart of the back four.
Central midfield is something of a 'Who have we got?' situation at present, with Youri Tielemans now joining Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana on the treatment table.
That could open the door for teenager George Hemmings to potentially make the squad but the likelihood is that Lamare Bogarde and John McGinn team up.
With Elliott and Sancho hoping to bring a bit of attacking sparkle, Emi Buendia might just pip Evann Guessand to a start, with Donyell Malen up top.
John Townley's predicted XI: Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, McGinn; Elliott, Buendia, Sancho; Malen.
What XI should Emery pick? Have your say here