Aston Villa travel to Elland Road to face Leeds this evening and will still be without Matty Cash, Kortney Hause, Jack Grealish and Wesley Moraes, so Dean Smith might stick with largely the same starting XI which narrowly lost to Leicester last Sunday.
Emiliano Martinez has been outstanding between the sticks apart for a couple of hiccups in goal, so his place isn’t at risk. Ezri Konsa has been in fine form alongside Tyrone Mings and is even being talked about for an England call-up, so there’s no chance of the two centre-backs being broken up.
Ahmed Elmohamady struggled at times in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester, but he’ll likely keep his place at right-back with Matty Cash out of action. Matt Targett has quietly impressed on the left this season, so Neil Taylor isn’t likely to dethrone him.
Some fans have called for Marvelous Nakamba to start ahead of Douglas Luiz against Leeds, but Smith has been very loyal to his regulars so it could go either way. That being said, Luiz was dropped in Villa’s 1-0 win over Arsenal and Nakamba impressed in his stead, so it’s possible that he could come into the team this evening.
John McGinn hasn’t been at his best in recent weeks, but he still turned over the ball three times against Leicester and drew a number of fouls (WhoScored), so he should be kept in the side at Morgan Sanson’s expense.
Anwar El Ghazi didn’t have the best game against Leicester and was replaced for Trezeguet after the hour mark, but the Egyptian hardly impressed from the bench either so he may not have done enough to force his way into the line-up.
Ross Barkley has been short of goals and assists since returning from a hamstring injury, but Smith is adamant that he will turn things around with more games. It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be dropped for Jacob Ramsey despite some fans’ calls for such a change.
Bertrand Traore scored against Leicester and has had a hand in seven of Villa’s last 16 Premier League goals (Transfermarkt), so he’s too important to leave out.
Ollie Watkins has scored four goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (Transfermarkt), so Keinan Davis isn’t threatening his position.
Predicted XI to face Leeds: Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Nakamba, McGinn; El Ghazi, Barkley, Traore; Watkins
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