Unai Emery has a few selection dilemmas for this weekend's Premier League clash against Sunderland
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.
Aston Villa winger Jadon Sancho(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa head to the Stadium of Light on Sunday looking to secure their first win of the season.
Opponents Sunderland have won both of their opening home games this term - against West Ham and Brentford - and earned a point away at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Villa, meanwhile, come into the game having failed to score in their first four league matches, and on the back of being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brentford in a penalty shootout.
Harvey Elliott bagged Villa’s first goal of the campaign just before half-time at the Gtech Community Stadium, before Aaron Hickey equalised.
John McGinn and Matty Cash missed two of Villa’s four penalties, but both players - along with Elliott - could keep their places in the starting XI against Sunderland.
Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers both came off the bench in the final half-hour and are also expected to start this weekend.
Emi Martinez should return to the starting XI, likely playing behind a back four of Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, and Ian Maatsen.
Boubacar Kamara returned to the matchday squad on Tuesday after recovering from a hamstring issue and came off the bench against Brentford.
If McGinn operates in a double pivot alongside Kamara, that would leave one more spot in an advanced midfield role - likely in support of Watkins - alongside Rogers and Elliott.
Jadon Sancho, despite not being fully match-fit, could get the nod to start ahead of the likes of Emi Buendía and Evann Guessand.
That setup would allow Elliott and Rogers to interchange between the No. 10 and right-sided roles, while Sancho continues to develop what looked like a promising partnership with Maatsen on the left flank.
Sancho hit the post on his debut against Brentford and created two chances, but he’ll need pace around him to help free up space and make the most of his creativity.
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Aston Villa predicted XI vs Sunderland: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, McGinn; Rogers, Elliott, Sancho; Watkins.