Manager Unai Emery has named his team for Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Bournemouth this afternoon.
Villa need to get their Premier League form back on track after a run of just two wins in six matches. After consecutive home defeats, they’re looking for some road relief by the Dorset coast this afternoon.
Emery has immediately reinstated striker Ollie Watkins after he recovered from a minor injury in time to play at the ground where he became Villa’s record Premier League scorer. Tammy Abraham drops to the bench.
Midfielder Amadou Onana is also fit enough to start, which he does alongside new signing Douglas Luiz in a double pivot.
If Villa’s attacking change was likely in the event that Watkins was available, a couple of decisions at the back weren’t quite so obvious.
Emery has switched up the left side of his back line, preferring former Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings in the middle with Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne at left-back.
It appears to be a tactical choice based largely on the capabilities of Mings as a straight-up central defender, while Digne’s inclusion suggests a desire to see some quality deliveries at the other end.
Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen are both among the substitutes. Harvey Elliott and George Hemmings miss out.
Starting XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Luiz, Onana, Buendía, Sancho, Rogers, Watkins
Substitutes: Bizot, Proctor, Lindelöf, Maarsen, Torres, Bogarde, Bailey, Barkley, Abraham
➡️ How to watch Bournemouth v Aston Villa: kick-off time, TV channels and streams
➡️ Bournemouth v Aston Villa: predicted line-up, team news and match preview
The post Unai Emery makes Ollie Watkins decision: Aston Villa team news for Premier League game at Bournemouth appeared first on AVillaFan.com – Aston Villa Fan Site.
