John McGinn Aston Villa return mooted v Bologna as Unai Emery admission shared

Dan Bardell believes that John McGinn could return for Aston Villa against Bologna as Unai Emery looks to rotate his squad.

The Villans welcome the Italian side to Villa Park on Tuesday 22 October as they look to make it three wins from three in the Champions League.

After playing Fulham at Craven Cottage just three days prior, Emery may be forced into making changes to keep his side fresh and injury-free.

With that being said, Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell can see McGinn returning to the starting XI alongside Ian Maatsen.

Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: "I keep thinking that Emery is going to have to rotate at some point and he hasn't so far this season but inevitably he will have to.

"Ian Maatsen at left back wouldn't surprise me and I also think John McGinn will start on one of the flanks.

"They are the only real changes that I would expect."

John McGinn could return for Aston Villa against Bologna

It was heartbreaking for Villa fans that the Scotland international missed out on the clash against Bayern Munich through injury.

With a view to starting in the second Villa Park Champions League game, the 30-year-old has stepped up his recovery during the international break and made the bench against Fulham where he came on for seven minutes.

Now there is a chance for McGinn to return to the starting XI against Bologna if Emery looks to rotate his squad with a clash against Bournemouth in the Premier League on the horizon.

In other Aston Villa news, transfer links to Liam Delap have emerged amid the latest Tottenham twist.

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