Aston Villa defender Pau Torres has not been included in Unai Emery's squad to face Sunderland
Pau Torres of Aston Villa
Pau Torres of Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
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Pau Torres has not been included in Aston Villa’s squad to face Sunderland this afternoon.
The Spaniard has started six of Villa’s last seven matches across all competitions, including the last two league games, against West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
It has been confirmed, however, that Torres’ absence today is due to squad rotation and not injury.
Victor Lindelof was also left out of the team to face West Ham before the international break for the same reason, as Villa have only one injured player, Boubacar Kamara.
Andres Garcia, Alysson, and Harvey Elliott are also not included in the matchday squad to face a Sunderland side that has won its last two away league games.
The Black Cats have the incentive of moving up as high as sixth, leapfrogging Chelsea with three points.
Villa, meanwhile, can move 10 points clear of Chelsea following their 1-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Saturday night.
Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Barkley; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Buendia, Digne, Abraham, Sancho, Luiz, Bogarde, Bailey.
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