Aston Villa vs. Bolton Wanderers: Predicted Lineup – November 2nd

Aston Villa enters a relaxed month of November with just 4 fixtures scheduled. With three of those at home, including Friday vs. Bolton, the claret and blues can *hopefully* climb the table.

Dean Smith’s first three matches in charge of Aston Villa have not been kind on the injury front. Blows to Birkir Bjarnason and Albert Adomah have lightened his options in midfield. While Adomah could return after missing last Friday’s match against Queens Park Rangers, Bjarnason is likely to miss a chunk of time after suffering a groin injury.

Enter Mile Jedinak, the midfielder?

With Bjarnason sidelined, Smith will need to rely on some combination of Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane, or Jedinak to fill the void next to Jack Grealish and John McGinn.

Villa Park hosts Bolton Wanderers on Friday, November 2nd. Phil Parkinson’s side has had a rough time in the league this season, sitting two places below Villa in 19th-place with a -9 goal differential.

Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis leads the club in scoring on 4 goals. He’s just one of two players, forward Yanic Wildschut the other, to score more than once in the league. Villa have the chance to really put down a convincing victory on Friday.

Aston Villa Predicted XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Hutton, Chester, Tuanzebe, Taylor; Whelan, McGinn, Grealish; Elmohamady, Abraham, Kodjia.

Substitutes: Bunn, Jedinak, Hourihane, Lansbury, El Ghazi, Bolasie, Hogan.

This probably isn’t the lineup I’d go with, but it seems like Jonathan Kodjia is the preferred option at left-wing with Albert Adomah injured. Until Yannick Bolasie and/or Anwar El Ghazi prove something, they’re on the outside looking in when it comes to the starting lineup.

That being said, should Dean Smith elect for a change, Ahmed Elmohamady could slot back into the right-back position. Ørjan Nyland and the rest of the backline continue despite unconvincing displays for large swaths of the season.

We could see Callum O’Hare on the bench as well. He sat out the most recent under-23 match with a few of the other reserve players.

WHEN: Friday, 2 November 2018, 3:45 p.m. EST / 7:45 p.m. GMT

WHERE: Villa Park

PREDICTION: 3-1 Aston Villa victory (Grealish, Abraham, McGinn)

It’s about time for a convincing three points. Bolton, at home, is a prime an opportunity as any.