Unai Emery makes Amadou Onana decision as Aston Villa XI confirmed v Fulham
Unai Emery has named his starting XI as Aston Villa travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday (19 October).
With Ezri Konsa’s injury before the international break, he is just one of three changes from the side that faced Manchester United, having been replaced by Diego Carlos.
Jacob Ramsey is restored to the starting XI [via official X account], with Emery also bringing Amadou Onana back in, dropping Ross Barkley and Jaden Philogene for the trip to Craven Cottage.
With Fulham in fine form, sitting comfortably in ninth, Onana is a player that the Spaniard just had to start after missing out against the Red Devils. The midfield duo of Youri Tielemans and Barkley just wasn’t the same.
Unai Emery makes Amadou Onana call in Aston Villa v Fulham
Emery will be hoping for his side to get back to winning ways, having gone into the international break following a disappointing goalless draw with Man United at Villa Park.
Onana returning to the side will be a huge boost for the Villans, having gone off injured against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Before leaving the field against the German giants, the midfielder completed 100 per cent of his passes, maintained a 100 per cent shot accuracy, completed 100 per cent of his dribbles and was just as good defensively [FotMob].
He won 100 per cent of his tackles, 75 per cent of his ground duels and 100 per cent of his aerial duels, all without making a single foul against a rather tricky opposition.
That is exactly the type of player that Emery needs in his starting XI, especially given Tielemans’ lacklustre display at Villa Park last time out.
The 27-year-old only completed 70 per cent of his passes, being dispossessed once, being dribbled past once and committing two fouls. He also only won 44 per cent of his ground duels [FotMob].
Emery will be buzzing with Onana’s return as Villa prepare to take on the Cottagers.
In other Aston Villa news, one academy ace has decided on a £10,000-a-week+ five-year contract as the mystery rumbles on at Villa Park.
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