Claret Villans
Fansided

Aston Villa vs. Reading FC: Expected Starting XI at Villa Park

By Josh Tonti

HULL, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Michael Dawson of Hull City blocks a cross from John Terry of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Aston Villa at KCOM Stadium on March 31, 2018 in Hull, England. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND - MARCH 31: Michael Dawson of Hull City blocks a cross from John Terry of Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Aston Villa at KCOM Stadium on March 31, 2018 in Hull, England. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

We’re back at it with midweek EFL Championship action. Aston Villa host Paul Clement’s Reading FC at Villa Park.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Sunday. You all might have had a welcome weekend respite, but Aston Villa Football Club surely did not. Fresh off a disappointing scoreless draw to Hull City, the claret and blues host a midweek Championship match.

Reading is coming to town, a few days removed from a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers with ten men. Forward Yann Kermorgant was sent off for a pair of bookings so Villa will miss out on seeing the veteran French forward. He only has one goal on the season, but his 18 strikes last term catapulted Reading to the playoffs.

Blazing winger Modou Barrow tops the Reading goal charts with 9 goals; Iceland international Jon Dadi Bödvarsson follows closely with 7 in total. Running the midfield should be Wales veteran David Edwards and the impressive 22-year old John Swift. Our own Tommy Elphick is closing in on a return to fitness after knee surgery, but he is obviously ineligible for this match with his Reading loan.

For Aston Villa, not much has changed since the weekend. There are no new reported injury concerns. Glenn Whelan is probably one week away, while Jonathan Kodjia ramps-up full fitness.

Projected Aston Villa XI (4-1-4-1): Johnstone; Elmohamady, Chester, Terry (c), Hutton; Jedinak; Snodgrass, Grealish, Hourihane, Adomah; Hogan.

I think Birkir Bjarnason is good to go? He was wisely left out of Steve Bruce’s squad at Hull after Iceland duty left him traveling from U.K. to California to New Jersey back to U.K. Mile Jedinak was taken off on the 61st-minute against Hull. Therefore, he is a bit fresher than he normally would be. Who plays as Villa’s number six is a crapshoot.

Scott Hogan should definitely displace Lewis Grabban if Jonathan Kodjia needs a few more minutes before a full start. Elsewhere, Ahmed Elmohamady is likely to resume right back duties ahead of Axel Tuanzebe. Ditto for Conor Hourihane in midfield.

Substitutes: Bunn, Tuanzebe, Bjarnason, Lansbury, Green, Grabban, Kodjia.

A ridiculous amount of players to choose from. You could make a second, equally impressive bench out of: Onomah, Davis, Hepburn-Murphy, Bree, Taylor, Samba, Sarkic. Tough luck for Keinan Davis making Steve Bruce’s match-day squads after scoring two England u20 goals. I would argue for his inclusion as he adds a far different look than Hogan or Grabban.

Home/Aston Villa News