Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said on Friday that fresh January signings Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne are “both available and in contention” to play against Manchester United on Saturday evening.
Villa welcome United to Villa Park less than a week after suffering a controversial FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.
A win would secure Villa’s first league double over Manchester United since 1954. Kortney Hause’s 88th-minute winner fired Villa to a 1-0 win over the Red Devils on September 25.
Fans will be anxious to get a look at the high-profile signings in Villa’s first home match since a 3-1 Boxing Day loss to Chelsea. Villa were without John McGinn on that day and will again be without the Scotsman’s services on Saturday due to suspension.
Villa enter the weekend in 14th place with 22 points from 19 matches. United are nine points clear of the Villans in seventh place and four points adrift of the European places.
Gerrard’s side seeks their first win since a 2-0 triumph at Norwich on December 14. Their last Premier League action was a 2-1 loss at Brentford on January 2.
Aston Villa vs. Manchester United team news
Several first-team regulars are unavailable to Gerrard ahead of this fixture.
In addition to McGinn’s suspension, and lingering injuries to Leon Bailey and Marvelous Nakamba, Bertrand Traore and Trézéguet are currently on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jaden Philogene-Bidace, who made a substitute cameo on Sunday, picked up a knock and is ruled out as well.
Despite Coutinho’s availability, Gerrard said “he’s not match fit because over at Barcelona he’s been doing a lot of individual training and in small groups.” He’s unlikely to start on Saturday but could come on as a sub.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Maguire, and Jadon Sancho are all back in training for Manchester United and could feature at Villa Park.
Paul Pogba remains out while Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay will serve one-match suspensions.
Aston Villa projected Starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Sanson, Douglas Luiz J. Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins; Ings
Manchester United projected Starting XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Telles; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes; Ronaldo, Cavani
Date/time: Saturday, January 15 at 5:30 PM BST/12:30 PM EST
Ground: Villa Park
TV/Streaming UK: Sky Sports
TV/Streaming US: NBC