Unai Emery has a few selection dilemmas for Aston Villa's clash against Manchester United this weekend
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
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Aston Villa go in search of their 10th win in a row this weekend, and their seventh consecutive victory in the Premier League, as Manchester United head to Villa Park.
Unai Emery’s side will be seen by many as favourites, especially considering their impressive home form. At Villa Park, they’ve won nine matches in a row and will be looking to extend that winning streak into double figures on Sunday afternoon.
Manchester United will be without Casemiro due to suspension, as well as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui, who are away on AFCON duty.
Villa, meanwhile, are set to be without Pau Torres, Tyrone Mings, and Ross Barkley, while Jadon Sancho cannot play against his parent club.
Emi Martinez has been managing a back injury over the last couple of weeks, but could return to action this weekend after resting against FC Basel and West Ham, having started against Arsenal.
If he does start, he will likely play behind a defence composed of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelof, and either Lucas Digne or Ian Maatsen.
Maatsen has started the last three league matches, all wins against Brighton, Arsenal, and West Ham. Although Digne had previously been a more frequent starter, Maatsen may get the nod once again.
Emery could name the same midfield that started against West Ham, with Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana partnering each other, while Youri Tielemans plays further forward with a bit more freedom.
John McGinn and Morgan Rogers are then expected to support striker Ollie Watkins.
Alternatively, Emery could bring Donyell Malen into the starting XI in place of Onana and move Tielemans back into a double pivot.
Predicted Villa starting XI vs Man United: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.