Following the midweek victory over AZ Alkmaar, Unai Emery must make some decisions…
Aston Villa return to Villa Park this afternoon, as Unai Emery’s side look to bounce back from their defeat against Fulham on Premier League match day 12.
The Villans suffered their first league loss in six after falling 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last time out, but other results on match week 11 ensured Emery’s side’s fifth-place finish.
With the Cottagers arriving in poor form and Villa only two points outside the top four, it’s critical that Villa regain their momentum.
Aston Villa vs. Fulham team news
In midweek, the Villans hosted AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League, where they maintained their strong home form to earn three late points in Group E.
The high-flying squad have turned Villa Park into a fortress, with a 12-game unbeaten run currently in place when Emery’s side are at home, and if the hosts win against Fulham, the squad will break a record set in 1983 by going 13 home games undefeated.
Before they can think about winning, the Clarets must first put in a strong performance against Marco Silva’s well-organized side, with Emery revealing some new injury updates following the midweek win over AZ.
In his pre-match press conference, the manager revealed that center-back Diego Carlos will be out due to a “small injury” suffered against the Eredivisie side, and Jacob Ramsey will also be out as he works his way back to full fitness.
After fully recovering from a hamstring injury, Alex Moreno will be in the squad, with a few changes expected following the rotation seen earlier in the week, with one highly-rated member of the XI’s position potentially under threat.
Statistics indicating that Boubacar Kamara should be dropped
Boubacar Kamara had a questionable performance against AZ Alkmaar, with the main story being his inexplicable miss, which was mitigated by Villa’s equalizer shortly after.
The 23-year-old has impressed since arriving in England from Ligue 1 in the summer of 2022, starting every Premier League game this season at the base of the midfield. Talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as the “biggest jewel” in Marseille’s squad.
However, the Frenchman has recently displayed a less-reliable spell of form in the middle of the park, and with other options available, Emery may want to rotate his engine room.
Youri Tielemans, who joined from Leicester City in the summer, is one name that could replace Kamara. He has previously expressed his dissatisfaction with his playing time.
The Belgian has yet to start a Premier League game for Villans, with the former Marseille ace’s slump potentially opening the door for the 26-year-old to prove his worth.
Leander Dendoncker is another player available for selection, with a wealth of Premier League experience in midfield but little claim to game time as competition for places grows in Emery’s squad.
The manager must make a decision ahead of the game, with the single goal of claiming a crucial three points and continuing their largely stellar start to the 2023/24 season.
