Aston Villa expected starting XI: Critical Hull City clash awaits
By Josh Tonti
Welcome back from extended international break hiatus. Aston Villa face another test on the road, Steve Bruce’s former employer, Hull City.
Villa should face another stern opponent on the road Saturday in the shape of Nigel Adkins’ Hull City squad. Though a pre-season favorite to contend for promotion, Hull have spent the majority of the season loitering at the bottom-half of the table with mixed results.
It was not a doom and gloom, however. Before the break, the Tigers won two on the bounce in spectacular fashion before an awful 3-0 loss to Birmingham City. Jarrod Bowen’s 13 goals are more than double that of the next-highest scorers, Uruguayan Abel Hernandez, and Poland international Kamil Grosicki’s 6 goals. Hull are anchored by Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine and veteran center back, Michael Dawson.
For Aston Villa, the international window could not have come at a more convenient time. The claret and blues are on successive poor losses to quite frankly, bad teams, in QPR and Bolton. A full two weeks off allowed a bevy of players to extend rehab from soft-tissue injuries. Fullbacks Alan Hutton, Axel Tuanzebe, and Neil Taylor all are reportedly near full strength and available for selection. Moreover, Jonathan Kodjia returned to full training, as did André Green.
Projected Aston Villa XI (4-1-4-1): Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry (c), Hutton; Bjarnason; Snodgrass, Grealish, Hourihane, Adomah; Hogan.
I thoroughly expect Scott Hogan to return to the starting XI. Lewis Grabban just did not cut it these last two defeats. It’s a toss-up on who plays defensive midfield. The boss has not updated Glenn Whelan’s status. Neither Mile Jedinak or Birkir Bjarnason will be 100% fit after extended travel and heavy minutes with their respective national teams.
If good to go, Alan Hutton is expected to displace Neil Taylor at left back.
Substitutes: Bunn, Tuanzebe, Taylor, Jedinak, Lansbury, Grabban, Davis.
Tough to leave out a couple names with everyone fit. Callum O’Hare, André Green and Josh Onomah are all thoroughly in contention for a spot on the substitutes’ bench.