BirminghamLive brings you the latest Aston Villa news as Unai Emery is set to name his starting XI to face Newcastle United this afternoon.
Aston Villa will host Newcastle United this afternoon (12.30pm kick-off) in search of their seventh win in eight Premier League games, with Unai Emery’s side firmly in the race for European football in the final weeks of the season.
Only the division’s top two teams Arsenal and Man City have collected more points than Villa since Emery’s return to Premier League management back in November. The Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard in the Villa hot seat following the club’s poor start to the league season, which saw Villa win just two of their first 11 games.
Emery’s appointment has galvanised the club and with eight games left to play this season, Villa have their best chance of qualifying for European football since 2010, as they sit in sixth position. This afternoon’s opponents, Newcastle, are heading for Champions League qualification and have travelled to Villa Park having won five on the bounce for the second time this campaign.
Here’s the squad available to Emery this afternoon…
Goalkeepers
Emi Martinez, Robin Olsen, Viljami Sinisalo, James Wright
Defenders
Ashley Young, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Calum Chambers, Alex Moreno, Lucas Digne, Seb Revan
Midfielders
John McGinn, Leander Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz, Emi Buendia, Jacob Ramsey
Attackers
Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Bertrand Traore
Injured: Jed Steer, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Leon Bailey, Philippe Coutinho
