Emery to drop Watkins, four changes – Aston Villa predicted XI v Everton
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is expected to make four changes to his starting line-up when his side face Everton on Wednesday.
The Villans go into the Goodison Park contest on 15 January full of confidence after a 2-1 victory over West Ham in the FA Cup third round on Friday.
Ollie Watkins might miss out with Jhon Duran ready to return following his suspension after the red card he received against Newcastle.
The clash could also see the likes of Emi Martinez, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana return to the starting team but Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos and John McGinn are ruled out.
Aston Villa to make four changes for Everton clash
Emery confirmed that he expects to have Martinez available for selection between the sticks after he missed the win over the Hammers through injury.
Matty Cash is predicted to keep his place on the right side of defence, he recorded a 95 per cent pass accuracy against the Irons while making four recoveries and winning four out of the six ground duels that he contested for a 67 per cent success rate. [Fotmob]
Ezri Konsa is expected to continue at centre-back, he completed the most passes in the contest on Friday, with 66 for a 96 per cent pass accuracy, he also made five recoveries and one clearance.
Tyrone Mings might partner him with Torres still ruled out, the 31-year-old recorded a 93 per cent pass accuracy and made 16 passes into the final third as well as making two clearances and one recovery in the Villa Park clash.
At left-back, Ian Maatsen is predicted to keep Lucas Digne out of the starting line-up, he recorded an 82 per cent pass accuracy and had three touches in the opposition box and four passes into the final third but also made six recoveries and three interceptions.
Onana is expected to return at the base of midfield in the place of Barkley, the Belgian midfielder impressed in a 67-minute cameo, recording a pass accuracy of 88 per cent, making four recoveries, one interception and scoring the all-important equaliser.
He is predicted to be partnered by Kamara, the Frenchman completed the joint-most dribbles in the match with three for a 100 per cent success rate, while also winning all five ground duels that he contested in a monstrous performance against Graham Potter’s side.
In front of those two, Jacob Ramsey could return in the number ten role after an 18-minute cameo against the Irons in which he hit the woodwork, recorded a 100 per cent pass accuracy from seven passes, made two recoveries and won two of the three ground duels that he contested for a 67 per cent success rate.
Unai Emery surprise in attack
On the right flank, Leon Bailey is expected to continue after recording a 90 per cent pass accuracy, creating three chances and taking seven touches in the opposition box while also contributing defensively when making four recoveries.
In the number nine role, Duran might return after he served a three-match ban for his red card against Newcastle in a decision that may be harsh on Ollie Watkins.
The English attacker recorded a 92 per cent pass accuracy against the Hammers, creating three chances, notching an assist and taking nine touches in the opposition box as he constantly proved a menace but recorded a zero per cent dribble success rate.
Morgan Rogers is predicted to keep his spot on the right side of the attack, he completed the joint-most dribbles in the contest with three for a 75 per cent success rate and scored the winning goal but recorded a pass accuracy of just 67 per cent.
The Villans could go up to sixth with a win and would be only behind fifth-place Newcastle on goal difference if results elsewhere go their way.
In other Aston Villa news, Villa could be set to lose one star for an £80 million windfall in January.
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