---
title: "Aston Villa Predicted XI: Leeds (A)"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/27/aston-villa-predicted-xi-leeds-dean-smith/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-27T08:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-27T08:00:00Z"
---

# Aston Villa Predicted XI: Leeds (A)

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](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/The-Presser-Smith-on-facing-Leeds/), so Dean Smith might stick with largely the same starting XI which [narrowly lost to Leicester](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3429734) last Sunday.

**Emiliano Martinez** has been [outstanding](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/Brighton-0-0-Aston-Villa/) 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/301440/MatchStatistics/Ezri-Konsa) alongside **Tyrone Mings** and is even being [talked about for an England call-up](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/16/ezri-konsa-on-england-radar-three-lions/), 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](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/22/villa-fans-slam-ahmed-elmohamady-performance-leicester/), but he’ll likely keep his place at right-back with Matty Cash out of action. **Matt Targett** has [quietly impressed](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/136776/MatchStatistics/Matt-Targett) on the left this season, so Neil Taylor isn’t likely to dethrone him.

[Some fans have called](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/22/villa-fans-want-nakamba-start-v-leeds-douglas-luiz/) 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/243249/MatchStatistics/Marvelous-Nakamba), 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485432/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Leicester)), so he should be kept in the side at Morgan Sanson’s expense.

**Anwar El Ghazi** [didn’t have the best game against Leicester](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-player-ratings-leicester-19877306) and was replaced for Trezeguet after the hour mark, but the Egyptian [hardly impressed from the bench either](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485432/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Leicester) so he may not have done enough to force his way into the line-up.

**Ross Barkley** has been [short of goals and assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978) since returning from a hamstring injury, but [Smith is adamant](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/23/dean-smith-defends-ross-barkley-after-recent-criticism/) 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](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/24/aston-villa-fans-want-jacob-ramsey-starting-over-ross-barkley/).

**Bertrand Traore** scored against Leicester and has had a hand in seven of Villa’s last 16 Premier League goals ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bertrand-traore/leistungsdaten/spieler/131996)), so he’s too important to leave out.

**Ollie Watkins** has scored four goals in his last seven Premier League appearances ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358)), so [Keinan Davis](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/23/keinan-davis-snub-makes-little-sense-dean-smith-aston-villa/) isn’t threatening his position.

***Predicted XI to face Leeds:*** *Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Nakamba, McGinn; El Ghazi, Barkley, Traore; Watkins*