Aston Villa host 6th-place Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park. In a rematch of the opening weekend, the claret and blue seek revenge after a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Manager Steve Bruce once again has limited resources to call upon. Leandro Bacuna continues his six match suspension while a host of injured players seek treatment: Birkir Bjarnason, Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy are all out.
Moreover, Jack Grealish, Alan Hutton, and Scott Hogan are doubts as well. There is a small chance one or two could feature on the bench however.
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Wednesday feature another tough test for Aston Villa. On the opening weekend of the Championship, Wednesday defeated an inexperienced Villa squad. Fernando Forestieri fired past Pierluigi Gollini for a full three points.
Almen Abdi is the only current casualty for Wednesday – he is unlikely to start.
PROJECTED ASTON VILLA XI (4-3-3): Johnstone; Bree, Chester (c), Baker, Taylor; Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane, Adomah, Kodjia, Amavi.
Substitutes: Bunn, Elphick, Richards, Gardner, Blackett-Taylor, Grealish, Davis.
Steve Bruce goes back to the well with his preferred 4-3-3. In the absence of many Villa attackers, Jordan Amavi plays on the left wing.
James Bree fills-in for the injured Alan Hutton. Bree impressed in his mid-week start versus Huddersfield Town. The rest of the back line remains the same after conceding just one goal in the past four league matches.
Aston Villa desperately need more secondary scoring from anyone not named Jonathan Kodjia. Kodjia’s thirteen league goals by far lead the squad. Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish follow with a meager three goals a piece.
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After that? No one else has more than one. Goals from midfield and secondary scoring in general is a huge problem with the club at the moment. Perhaps a fit Scott Hogan will remedy this issue.
Kickoff is 10AM Eastern Time.