Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest – Predicted lineup and team news

Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, looking to bounce back from their heavy midweek defeat.

The Lions sit third in the Premier League table despite the recent loss to Arsenal. Consequently, Unai Emery wants to start the new year by maintaining his team’s incredible home record. Villa have won 10 consecutive matches at Villa Park across all competitions. Therefore, the home crowd expects a dominant response against a struggling Forest side.

However, Emery must navigate a growing injury list in his squad. Amadou Onana is the latest high-profile absence after sustaining a hamstring injury at the Emirates. Furthermore, the manager is still without several long-term defensive options. In contrast, the return of two key players from suspension provides a timely boost to the starting XI. Villa remain firmly in the top-four hunt and can consolidate their position with a victory today.

Aston Villa Team News

Unai Emery confirmed that Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are both available for selection. Both players served one-match bans during the trip to Arsenal and are expected to return to the starting lineup. Nevertheless, Amadou Onana has been ruled out of this fixture. The midfielder was forced off at half-time on Tuesday night and faces a spell on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Ross Barkley and Harvey Elliott remain unavailable as they continue their respective recoveries.

The defensive unit is still missing Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings. Both left-sided centre-backs are nearing a return but will not be ready for the Forest clash. Consequently, Victor Lindelöf will likely partner Ezri Konsa in the heart of the defence once again. Furthermore, Evann Guessand is away representing Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations. January arrival Alysson is also ineligible to feature for the Lions this weekend.