The Championship returns this weekend after a two week break for World Cup Qualifiers, and up next for Villa is a home match against Brentford.
A number of Villa players were out on international duty, and thankfully they have all returned to the club fully fit and ready to push on with their promotion challenge.
Villa haven’t got off to the best of starts this season and they currently sit in 18th place with 5 points from their opening five matches. However, their opponents, who lost a load of key personnel during the summer transfer window, have got off to an ever worse start, having managed just two draws from their opening five matches.
Villa play Brentford, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Burton, and Bolton this month, so they will see it as a perfect opportunity to pick up the valuable points that they need to start moving themselves up the table.
As Villa are playing at home this weekend, we reckon that they will have a little too much for a depleted Brentford side, and they should pick up all three points.
Here is our predicted XI for Saturday’s match against Brentford.
ST: Keinan Davis
Is excelling in Kodjia’s absence and has been causing defences a whole lot of grief. Definite starter for us.
LM: Andre Green
Has shown consistent form in the opening games of the season, and provides a decent outlet down the left. We think he will get another start this weekend.
CM: Conor Hourihane
Before the international break, Hourihane was showing his best form since he arrived at the club. We reckon Bruce will give him another start on Saturday afternoon.
CM: Josh Onomah
Has been one of Villa’s best players this season, and he doesn’t deserve to be dropped.
CM: Mile Jedinak
Was one of Villa’s best players last season, and if he’s fit he has to start
RM: Robert Snodgrass
Elmohamady hasn’t lived up to expectations so far at Villa, so we reckon Bruce will give Snodgrass a chance to show the Villa fans what he’s capable of.
LB: Neil Taylor
As Villa’s only proper senior left-back, Bruce doesn’t have a difficult choice to make here.
CB: James Chester
Is starting to form a nice partnership with Terry, and Bruce won’t want to split the pair up.
CB: John Terry
As Villa’s captain, he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
RB: James Bree
With Alan Hutton struggling with an ankle injury, we reckon Bruce will play Bree ahead of De Laet.