Aston Villa v West Ham predicted XI – Unai Emery makes huge Ollie Watkins call
Aston Villa begin their Premier League campaign against West Ham in an away clash at the London Stadium on Saturday 17 August.
Unai Emery is preparing his side to try and replicate what they did last season after achieving Champions League qualification.
There are realistic dreams of securing another top-four finish but with the outgoings of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby, it will be interesting to see how the Villans line up.
Some things will stay the same, Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres will all be likely to keep their place in the starting XI moving into the new season.
At full-back, Emery has a selection headache with so many options with summer signing Ian Maatsen and Kosta Nedeljkovic joining the squad.
The Dutchman reached the Champions League final last campaign, scoring in the quarter-final against Atletico Madrid where he also kept up a 91 per cent pass accuracy [FotMob].
Nedeljkovic has had a surprising pre-season, playing a full 90 minutes against Borussia Dortmund, where he won 100 per cent of tackles and three duels.
Ollie Watkins Aston Villa fitness call v West Ham
In midfield, the likes of John McGinn, Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey will be hopeful of a starting role against West Ham after some electric showings last season.
Amadou Onana looks set to make his debut for the Villans after his move from Everton. His passing has been on show in preseason with a 92 per cent success rate against Dortmund [FotMob], which Emery will appreciate.
The forward line is where the Villa boss has more of a selection dilemma with Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey both looking to start at the London Stadium.
The latter has struggled with fitness while the ex-Middlesbrough man has been electric in preseason with three preseason goals and a positive defensive showing from the front with 100 per cent tackle success in Dortmund [FotMob].
The biggest decision that Emery will have to make is whether or not to start Watkins after recently returning to training after the EUROs and missing out in every preseason friendly.
After his 100 per cent shot ratio and iconic goal for the Three Lions against the Netherlands, the striker will be hopeful of starting, if fit.
This is also the case with Jhon Duran so it appears likely that the Spaniard will opt for the England international if he is available.
In other Aston Villa news, Unai Emery told make Tyrone Mings decision after injury developments.
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