---
title: "Villa Predicted XI: Man City (A)"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/20/aston-villa-predicted-xi-man-city-away/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-01-20T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-20T08:00:00Z"
---

# Villa Predicted XI: Man City (A)

Dean Smith revealed in [Tuesday’s pre-match press conference](https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/dm9kJTdDMF81OGt3c3d6diU3QyUyRnNlY3Rpb24lM0ZzbHVnJTNEaG9tZSU3Q2hvbWUlMkZoZXJvX2Nhcm91c2Vs?lang=en) that his Aston Villa side have been training for three days ahead of this evening’s Premier League meeting with Manchester City, but he did admit that some players might be absent for the Etihad Stadium clash due to their sluggish recovery from Covid.

Aston Villa suffered an [outbreak of the virus](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55575321), which forced them the entire first team and coaching staff to isolate, resulting in players from the under-23s and under-18s [having to start in the FA Cup](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55574199), but he didn’t say who could miss out.

Villa have [shared footage](https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/dm9kJTdDMF90dDNlY3czeSU3QyUyRnNlY3Rpb24lM0ZzbHVnJTNEdmlkZW8lN0N2aWRlbyUyRmNhcm91c2VscyUyRjAlMkZmZWVk?lang=en) of Bjorn Engels, Douglas Luiz, Neil Taylor, Jacob Ramsey, Ahmed Elmohamady, Ezri Konsa, Frederic Guilbert, Marvelous Nakamba, Kortney Hause, Anwar El Ghazi, Wesley Moraes, Ollie Watkins, Matty Targett, Tyrone Mings, Keinan Davis, Matty Cash, John McGinn, Jack Grealish, Tom Heaton, Bertrand Traore and Ross Barkley training ahead of the Man City clash, but it remains to be seen which team Smith will put out.

Emiliano Martinez wasn’t seen in training, but **Heaton** took part so he might be the only [change](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/ausfallzeiten/verein/405) from Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, their [last league outing](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/spielplan/verein/405/saison_id/2020) a full 19 days ago. **Targett** and **Cash** were both pictured and should keep their places at left-back and right-back respectively. **Tyrone Mings** and **Ezri Konsa** also trained and should get the nod tonight.

**Luiz** and **McGinn** all trained and should start in a two-man defensive midfield. Barkley may only be fit enough for the bench, so **Grealish** could get the nod in a central attacking midfield role rather than out wide. **El Ghazi** and **Traore** both trained and should start on opposing flanks, with **Watkins** leading the line as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 setup.

The break may have done some players the world of good, but City will be a difficult opposition as they boast [five consecutive league wins](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/spielplan/verein/281/saison_id/2020).

***Predicted XI vs Man City:*** *Heaton; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Grealish, Traore, El Ghazi; Watkins*