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Aston Villa preps for second-round Carabao Cup draw vs Wigan Athletic

By Josh Tonti

COLCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Aston Villa players celebrate their first goal, scored by Scott Hogan (3rd R), during the Carabao Cup First Round match between Colchester United and Aston Villa at Colchester Community Stadium on August 9, 2017 in Colchester, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
COLCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Aston Villa players celebrate their first goal, scored by Scott Hogan (3rd R), during the Carabao Cup First Round match between Colchester United and Aston Villa at Colchester Community Stadium on August 9, 2017 in Colchester, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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On Tuesday, Aston Villa Football Club host Wigan Athletic in the second-round of everyone’s favorite tourney, The Carabao Cup. Will we get to see Callum O’Hare, Keinan Davis, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, and the other youngsters again?

The Birmingham Mail has a nice post on Steve Bruce’s lineup uncertainty ahead of Tuesday. Given how well Keinan Davis and André Green, both 19, fared against Norwich City, one would be wise to save their fresh legs for the league.

Elsewhere, the expected changes should be, well, expected. Deputy goalkeeper Jed Steer mans the posts, while Chris Samba rotates in for John Terry. James Bree could deputize at right back, Bjarnason or De Laet in at left back.

On Monday morning, Aston Villa U23’s succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City. The lineup below should leave many clues for tomorrow’s senior bow to Wigan.

No: Mitch Clark, Jake Doyle-Hayes, RHM, Callum O’Hare, and Keinan Davis (obviously). The starters, almost all of whom went 90 minutes, will not be available on Tuesday. Therefore, don’t expect Easah Suliman to make his senior debut; same goes for Khalid Abdo, Oscar Borg, and Jacob Bedeau.

PROJECTED ASTON VILLA XI: Steer; Bree, Samba, Chester (c), De Laet; Whelan, Lansbury, O’Hare; Adomah, Hepburn-Murphy, Bjarnason.

SUBSTITUTES: Bunn, Clark, Hutton, Doyle-Hayes, Agbonlahor, Elmohamady, Hogan

This team, if set-up in a 4-3-3, should comfortably dispatch Wigan Athletic. Scott Hogan was healthy enough for a spot on the bench over the weekend after twisting his ankle. If Hepburn-Murphy is good to go, it would be wise to give Hogan a few more days of rest.

Glenn Whelan should feature in the number six hole. Mile Jedinak will be match-ready on Friday, meaning he can start at Bristol City. Elsewhere in midfield, Henri Lansbury retains a place in central midfield with Callum O’Hare just ahead of him.

The presence of both Adomah and Bjarnason on the wings brings stability and shape to the flanks.

Next: Aston Villa's Youth Impresses

WHEN: Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 2:45PM EST

WHERE: Villa Park, Birmingham

PREDICTION: 2-1 Aston Villa victory (Bjarnason, O’Hare) (Grigg)

The Latics are currently soaring to begin the year. They are a perfect 4-0 in all competitions with a +6 goal differential in League One – top of the table.

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