Aston Villa travel to Fulham this weekend looking to build on their strong start to the Premier League season.
Unai Emery’s men currently sit fifth in the Premier League table after collecting four wins from their opening seven games while only tasting defeat against Arsenal.
Aston Villa have also clinched wins in their opening two Champions League games, seeing off Young Boys and German giants Bayern Munich.
This weekend, they face a Fulham side who have made a decent start under Marco Silva, securing 11 points so far while narrowly losing to the champions Manchester City last time out.
Villa had nine players on international duty but they’ve all returned with a clean bill of health as Emery provided an exciting injury update in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
Aston Villa team news vs Fulham
For the first time in just over a year, Villa have a fully fit squad to choose from against Fulham, much to the delight of the Spanish boss.
The biggest news to come from Emery’s update was both Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara being fit and available for a matchday squad.
Emery also confirmed that John McGinn, who suffered a hamstring injury against Wolves in September, is ‘feeling good’ after recovering from that setback and could start on Saturday.
Supporters will have also been pleased to see that Ezri Konsa and Jaden Philogene were deemed fit after their respective injuries during the international break, along with Amadou Onana, Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey.
Villa have gone from being hampered by injuries to Emery being dealt a selection headache, and the Spanish tactician could make some changes from the side that were held to a goalless draw by Man United.
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Fulham
Emi Martinez missed Argentina’s two World Cup qualifying games against Venezuela and Bolivia after being banned by Fifa for ‘offensive behaviour’.
So, it means the world-class shot-stopper has enjoyed a rare period of rest and is now ready to continue his fine form at club level.
Konsa was withdrawn last time out against United but he’s recovered from that minor injury over the break and the defence should remain the same with Matty Cash, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne making up the back four.
As for the midfield, that is where it could get interesting. Onana was preferred to start alongside Youri Tielemans when fully fit, so now he’s back in contention, the 23-year-old could replace Ross Barkley.
That isn’t the only change Emery could make, with the ‘magnificent’ McGinn – as dubbed by Ian Wright – being thrown straight into the starting XI in place of Bailey.
He could be dropped for the Scotsman, with Philogene keeping his place on the wing and Morgan Rogers in the number 10.
Ollie Watkins will continue leading the line for Villa with Jhon Duran, of course, ready and waiting from the bench.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Tielemans, Onana; McGinn, Rogers, Philogene; Watkins.
