{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Dan Bardell: Nicolo Zaniolo and Youri Tielemans to start v Crystal Palace in post-international break 'refresh'
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Nicolo Zaniolo and Youri Tielemans could make their first Premier League starts for Aston Villa after the international break against Crystal Palace, according to Dan Bardell.
Neither new signing has had the opportunity to truly announce themselves in a Villa shirt this season, with the pair only making substitute appearances in the league. However, following the side’s poor performance in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool before the international break. Unai Emery may be eyeing up some changes ahead of their home clash against the Eagles.
Villa will be keen to progress past their current tenth-place position in the Premier League with a convincing home win against Palace, who find themselves in good form and a point above the Villans. Having won every single league home game (Eight) since their 4-2 defeat to Arsenal last February, Emery will back his side to beat Roy Hodgson’s men, but may consider changes.
With their “formidable” home form and plenty of options from the bench in mind, Bardell has predicted a starting lineup reshuffle with both Zaniolo and Tielemans breaking into the first 11 to “refresh” the team.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I think you will see a couple of changes. I think we could Zaniolo playing and potentially see Tielemans come in as well.
“Granted they’ll spend time on the bench, but they haven’t been bought just to sit on the bench. They’re the two I think could come in and give the team a little bit of a refresh.
“I fancy Villa to beat anyone at home. We haven’t lost a home game since February, Villa are a formidable outfit at Villa Park. But it’s the away form that’s the problem at the moment.”
In other Aston Villa news, a broadcaster has shared his blunt verdict after a Fabrizio Romano transfer update.