Aston Villa: Unai Emery to consider Jhon Duran start v Lille in Ollie Watkins selection twist
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will name a strong team for the Europa Conference League clash with Lille but may consider starting Jhon Duran, according to Alan Hutton.
The Villans welcome the Ligue 1 side to Villa Park for the first leg of the quarter-final clash on Thursday (11 April) as they look to continue their excellent European campaign and carry a lead into the second leg in France.
Emery has rotated his squad in the Premier League and Europe so far this season in an attempt to keep them fresh as he contends with injuries to several key players such as Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey.
However, Hutton has urged the Villa boss to name as strong a side as possible for Thursday night’s clash admitting Emery cannot let the opportunity to bring European silverware to Villa Park pass him by this year.
“I think you’ll look at Duran who has done well recently,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He scored in the previous round against Ajax. Does he still go with Ollie Watkins or does he need a rest? Diaby, and Bailey, these are the players he tends to flick between so you’re not quite sure.
“I still think he will go strong, he has to at this level. There is an opportunity to win a European trophy, he has to go with a strong team. I understood when he made a lot of changes within the league part of the competition because no disrespect but it was a lower level.
“They did find it hard at times because of the amount of changes, but now you have to go strong because there’s an opportunity to win something. Maybe one or two changes, but it will be a strong team.”
Will Ollie Watkins be fit to play for Aston Villa against Lille in the Europa Conference League?
Injuries and fatigue may force Emery’s hand, but the Villa boss cannot afford to make wholesale changes to his squad if he wants his side to book their place in a European semi-final this term and make history.
Watkins was impressive against Brentford and if he is fully fit he has to start on Thursday night, but Villa cannot afford to lose the England international for an extended period if he aggravates the injury that has kept him out in recent weeks.
No matter how Emery opts to start against the Ligue 1 giants, it is crucial that the Villans take a lead into the second leg. The last thing anyone at Villa Park will want is to have to overturn a deficit away from home next week.
In other Aston Villa news, Clement Lenglet has been ruled out of Villa’s showdown with Lille in the Conference League
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