Aston Villa Women could make several changes against Nottingham Forest tonight as Natalia Arroyo manages a demanding run of fixtures.
Villa travel to The City Ground for their opening Subway Players Cup league-phase match just three days after Sunday’s 1-1 WSL draw at Brighton.
Lynn Wilms rescued that point with an 89th-minute equaliser, but Villa return to league action again against Tottenham on Sunday.
That gives Arroyo an opportunity to use the depth created during Aston Villa’s summer rebuild.
Our Nottingham Forest Women vs Aston Villa match guide confirms tonight’s fixture kicks off at 7pm BST at The City Ground.
Here is how Villa could line up.
Aston Villa Women predicted XI vs Forest
Predicted XI: Okuma; Maritz, Parker, Turner, Pacheco; Blindkilde Brown, Kendall; McAulay, Hijikata, Murphy; Vangsgaard.
GK: Akane Okuma
Okuma should retain her place.
The Japan international has already produced several important performances during Villa’s difficult opening run and gives Arroyo continuity behind a potentially changed defence.
RB: Noelle Maritz
Lynn Wilms could be one of the players given a rest after her decisive contribution at Brighton.
Our analysis of Wilms’ late equaliser showed how influential she has become in Villa’s attacking play.
Maritz therefore looks a logical alternative at right-back.
CB: Lucy Parker
Parker has already established herself as an important part of Arroyo’s defensive plans and could provide experience alongside a rotated back line.
CB: Millie Turner
Turner is another option Arroyo can bring into the XI if she wants to manage minutes across the defence.
Forest’s strong start in WSL2 means Villa cannot simply field an entirely inexperienced side.
LB: Esme Pacheco
Rotation at full-back would make sense given the quick turnaround.
Pacheco could therefore receive an opportunity on the left.
Midfield changes could give Villa fresh legs
CM: Laura Blindkilde Brown
Blindkilde Brown looks like one of the players most likely to benefit from the cup competition.
She gives Villa energy and ball-carrying ability through midfield and should suit a game in which Forest are expected to want possession.
CM: Lucia Kendall
Kendall has captained Villa during the early stages of the season and could remain in the side to provide structure alongside any changes.
Our Brighton match report showed Villa again having to remain patient before finding a late response.
Kendall’s presence would help prevent tonight’s rotated XI becoming too disjointed.
Murphy and McAulay could start
RW: Mia McAulay
McAulay has already been trusted in difficult WSL fixtures and could return to the starting XI.
Her pace would give Villa a direct threat against a Forest side that has enjoyed long spells of possession during its unbeaten start.
AM: Maya Hijikata
Hijikata can operate between midfield and attack and offers Arroyo another player capable of connecting transitions quickly.
She should retain a prominent role even if Villa rotate elsewhere.
LW: Lily Murphy
Murphy is another obvious candidate for additional minutes.
She offers pace and directness from wide areas and could benefit from starting against lower-division opposition.
ST: Amalie Vangsgaard
Vangsgaard should lead the line.
Villa still need their first competitive victory of the season and Arroyo will not want to weaken the attack too heavily.
Keeping an experienced striker at the top of the side gives the rotated players around her a reliable focal point.
Forest should not be underestimated
This is not a straightforward opportunity to rest the entire first XI.
Forest are unbeaten after three WSL2 matches and earned their first victory of the season by beating Durham 2-1.
Our earlier Forest vs Villa cup preview highlighted their possession-heavy approach and encouraging start.
Arroyo therefore needs balance.
Villa should rotate enough to protect players ahead of Tottenham while retaining enough experience to begin the new cup format positively.
Predicted Aston Villa Women XI: Okuma; Maritz, Parker, Turner, Pacheco; Blindkilde Brown, Kendall; McAulay, Hijikata, Murphy; Vangsgaard.
