Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Match

Unai Emery to regret attacking choice as Aston Villa XI confirmed v West Ham

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Unai Emery could regret not enforcing another change as Aston Villa line up to face West Ham United on Friday.

The Spaniard has made three changes from the side who beat Leicester City 2-1, with Emi Martinez and Lucas Digne dropping out, and John McGinn sidelined through injury [Official X account].

With Robin Olsen, Ian Maatsen and Morgan Rogers coming in to fill those voids, Villa are looking near full-strength to take on Graham Potter's Hammers team, but one player sticks out a bit.

Leon Bailey, despite scoring in the last fixture, has been far from his best this season and could certainly struggle against a team likely to experience a new manager bounce at Villa Park.

His goal against the Foxes on Saturday 4 January was just his first of the Premier League season, and with Jacob Ramsey and Emi Buendia waiting on the bench, it could be a decision he lives to regret.

Leon Bailey call made ahead of Aston Villa v West Ham United

Emery will be keen to keep his side's current form going, having got back to winning ways against Leicester City following a 3-0 loss to Newcastle United and a 2-2 draw with Brighton.

With the Villans still attempting to rise up the Premier League table, currently sitting in eighth, and battling for one of the top spots in the Champions League, the FA Cup will not be a top priority.

However, Bailey could certainly do some damage to Villa's hopes of winning after his dreadful performance against Leicester was covered up by his goal.

Against the team placed one spot above the bottom of the Premier League table, the Jamaican international completed just 25 per cent of his dribbles, delivered zero per cent of his crosses and was dispossessed three times [FotMob].

He also won 11 per cent of his ground duels, made one foul, created zero chances and struggled to deliver any meaningful impact apart from scoring the opener at Villa Park.

The Hammers are bound to be a much more difficult opponent, but with Bailey keeping his spot in the lineup, it could be an easy decision for Emery when it comes to who he will take off first.

In other Aston Villa news, the Villans are favourites to sign Alejandro Garnacho following shock exit news at Manchester United.

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Aston Villa
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Unai Emery
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