Aston Villa travels to Griffin Park on Tuesday in a match-up of two mid-table sides. Who’s in and who’s out among the new January signings?
Steve Bruce has quite the lineup quandary to think over. There are eighteen spots in the squad for as many as twenty-two deserving players. Who among the Villa squad will be left out at the trip to Brentford?
Aaron Tshibola, for one, will not be involved. Tshibola left for Nottingham Forest on loan until June. Villa’s £5 million signing moves away after just six months. Probably for the best though, Tshibola would not be receiving match time with a suddenly crowded midfield. The 21-year old should be developing elsewhere with league play.
Steve Bruce has a relatively healthy squad to traveling to Brentford. Aston Villa official media claim Mile Jedinak is a serious doubt, but should be fit enough for Saturday’s match. Likewise, Ross McCormack presumably will be dropped as well. In case you missed it, Jonathan Kodjia returned.
PROJECTED ASTON VILLA XI (4-3-3): Johnstone; Bree, Chester, Baker, Amavi; Westwood, Lansbury, Hourihane; Adomah, Kodjia, Grealish.
SUBSTITUTES: Bunn, Elphick, Hutton, Bacuna, Bjarnason, Green, Agbonlahor.
Birkir Bjarnason could start over Jack Grealish on the left wing, but both are worthy starting options. Steve Bruce confirmed André Green will not leave on loan – hinting that he foresees Green playing a part for these remaining five-ish months.
James Bree inserts for Alan Hutton; Hutton takes Cissokho’s spot as the fullback option on the bench.
With Mile Jedinak missing, Ashley Westwood sits in the holding role with Henri Lansbury and Conor Hourihane just ahead of him. Many people on Twitter noted how much better Westwood use to play with better options next to him in central midfield; definitely something to look out for.
This new revamped Villa squad looks deep and dangerous. All of a sudden, Villa have the manpower to play multiple different systems due to versatility. Kickoff is 2:45PM Eastern Time.