Aston Villa fans will be anticipating the return of club football as Unai Emery’s men host Crystal Palace after the break.
Aston Villa went into the final international break of the year in poor form, after failing to win their previous five matches in all competitions.
Unai Emery’s men slipped down to ninth in the Premier League table following a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool but there is just one point separating the Villans from third-place Chelsea.
Emery will be hoping that most of his Villa players return to Bodymoor Heath with a clean bill of health, as several star for their nations.
Ollie Watkins found the net for England against Greece, Amadou Onana was a shining light for Belgium and John McGinn scored the winner over Croatia.
Latest Aston Villa team news after multiple injury setbacks
Villa have had to deal with their fair share of setbacks this season and their problems have piled up during the international break.
Ian Maatsen and Pau Torres were both sent home from national duty after suffering minor injuries while Ezri Konsa limped off for England in Thursday night’s win.
Konsa had a scan on Friday to determine the extent of the injury, although Villa are yet to inform whether he will face a spell on the sidelines.
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Boubacar Kamara suffered a minor issue before the break but he is set to return alongside Matty Cash and Ross Barkley against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, Jacob Ramsey is set to be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the loss to Liverpool.
Early predicted Aston Villa XI vs Crystal Palace
Emi Martinez will have played two matches against Paraguay and Peru before he’s next in action for his club but he’s one of few guarantees in the starting XI.
The ‘world-class’ Martinez is joined by a back four of Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne; the same quartet that started last time out.
Carsley’s update on Konsa’s injury didn’t sound serious, so he should be fit to start next weekend but if he isn’t, Cash could start at right-back.
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Youri Tielemans is enjoying a well-earned rest during the break and he will join his Belgian compatriot Onana in central midfield.
The ‘exciting’ Ramsey’s expected absence should pave with way for McGinn to start on the left with Morgan Rogers in attacking midfield and Leon Bailey on the right, leaving Watkins to lead the line.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Digne; Tielemans, Onana; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins.
