Unai Emery finally has the option to give Aston Villa’s rebuilt squad a very different look when they travel to Hull City on Saturday searching for their first Premier League points of the season.
Deadline Day arrivals Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are now available after missing Monday’s defeat to Arsenal, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho are pushing for their first Villa starts.
Johan Manzambi has returned to first-team training, but Villa are expected to remain cautious with the club-record signing following his knee injury.
Here is our Aston Villa predicted XI against Hull.
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Hull City
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: Zion Suzuki
Suzuki should retain his place after making his Villa debut against Arsenal.
The Japan international was considerably less exposed than Villa’s goalkeeper had been during the 4-0 defeat at Brighton and there is little reason for Emery to make another change between the posts.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
This is the first call I would make.
Wan-Bissaka came off the bench against Arsenal after Matty Cash started the opening two league fixtures.
As we explained in our four changes Emery can make at Hull, Hull’s ability to counter quickly makes Wan-Bissaka’s one-on-one defending particularly useful.
Prediction: Wan-Bissaka replaces Cash.
CB: Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Harwood-Bellis could make an immediate Premier League debut despite being left out of Villa’s Champions League List A.
That European decision does not affect his domestic availability.
Villa invested up to £30million in the former Southampton defender following Ezri Konsa’s departure, and he was specifically recruited to become an important part of Emery’s new defence.
Victor Lindelöf performed well against Arsenal, so this is far from guaranteed.
But Hull looks like a logical opportunity to begin integrating Harwood-Bellis.
CB: Pau Torres
Pau should keep his place.
Villa looked far more controlled defensively against Arsenal than they had at Brighton and retaining one established member of that partnership would provide continuity alongside a potential debutant.
LB: Ian Maatsen
Matteo Ruggeri provides serious competition, but I would stick with Maatsen for this one.
There are already enough potential changes elsewhere without Emery completely rebuilding the back four in one afternoon.
Kamara remains essential in midfield
CM: Boubacar Kamara
One of the easiest selections.
UEFA have themselves identified Kamara as a particularly influential Villa player, noting the significant difference in the club’s results when the midfielder is available.
With Amadou Onana injured and João Gomes suspended, Kamara becomes even more important.
CM: Ross Barkley
I would resist starting Leon Goretzka just yet.
Emery previously indicated that the former Bayern Munich midfielder needed further training before he would be ready, with a place in the Hull squad viewed as a possibility rather than confirmation he could start.
Other previews have also identified Goretzka as a possible option, but there is no first-party indication yet that he is ready for 60 or 90 minutes.
That makes Barkley the safer choice alongside Kamara.
Manzambi’s return to group work is encouraging, but throwing him straight into the XI after his knee issue would make little sense. Recent reporting similarly suggests Villa intend to manage his comeback carefully.
Ibrahim Mbaye can give Villa the direct threat they need
RW: Ibrahim Mbaye
This is the change I most want to see.
Villa have gone 180 Premier League minutes without a shot on target.
Mbaye gives them pace, direct dribbling and the willingness to attack a defender rather than continually receiving the ball in front of an organised block.
The £47m teenager was unavailable against Arsenal because his Deadline Day transfer had only just been completed.
Now he can start.
AM: John McGinn
McGinn stays.
Emery can use his captain centrally behind Nicolas Jackson, where his pressing, physicality and ability to arrive around the penalty area can be more valuable than asking him to provide Villa’s width.
LW: Alejandro Garnacho
This would mean dropping Emiliano Buendía.
It is harsh, but Villa’s attacking problem demands a response.
Garnacho offered direct running from the bench against Arsenal and starting him opposite Mbaye would completely change the profile of Villa’s attack.
Our post-window analysis already identified Mbaye and Garnacho as Villa’s most natural wide combination.
Saturday could be the first opportunity to use it.
ST: Nicolas Jackson
No debate here.
Jackson made his Villa debut against Arsenal and should lead the attack again.
Hull have started superbly, winning their first two league matches without conceding, so this is no straightforward assignment. Our Hull City v Aston Villa TV and team-news guide has everything supporters need before Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.
Sports Mole also expects Jackson to retain his place, while identifying Mbaye and Harwood-Bellis as players now available for their Villa debuts.
Villa need more than improved possession this weekend.
They need threat.
Giving Mbaye and Garnacho their first starts while introducing Harwood-Bellis and Wan-Bissaka would finally allow Emery to begin using the squad assembled during the final days of the window.
Our predicted Aston Villa XI
Suzuki; Wan-Bissaka, Harwood-Bellis, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Barkley; Mbaye, McGinn, Garnacho; Jackson.
