Aston Villa team news vs Newcastle as Unai Emery brings in Leander Dendoncker

Here’s the two teams from Villa Park with Emi Buendia moving a little further forward to support Ollie Watkins

Ashley Preece Local Democracy Reporter

11:41, 15 Apr 2023

Unai Emery has drafted in Leander Dendoncker for today’s lunchtime showdown with in-form Newcastle. The Belgian replaces Leon Bailey in the starting line-up after the Jamaican picked up a hamstring injury early into Villa’s win over Nottingham Forest last week.

‌

Dendoncker’s inclusion means Emi Buendia will move upfield to support Ollie Watkins while John McGinn will start on the right-hand side of Villa’s midfield.

‌

Back to front it’s Emi Martinez in goal with a back four of Ashley Young, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Alex Moreno. McGinn will start on the right of Villa’s midfield with Dendoncker and Douglas Luiz in the middle. Jacob Ramsey will begin on the left with Watkins supported by Buendia in attack.

‌

Bertrand Traore and Jhon Duran will be Emery’s attacking options from off the bench while 17-year-old left-back Travis Patterson steps up to Villa’s 20-man first-team squad for the first time.

‌

For Newcastle, January signing Anthony Gordon starts alongside Alexander Isak in attack. Former Villa man Matt Targett is on the bench.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz, J.Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Sinisalo, Diego Carlos, Traore, Chambers, Duran, Digne, Revan, Patterson.

Article continues below

Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Willock, Joelinton, Murphy; Gordon, Isak.

Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Wilson, Ritchie, Target, Manquillo, Almiron, Anderson, Longstaff.

Aston Villa team news vs Newcastle as Unai Emery brings in Leander Dendoncker

Here’s the two teams from Villa Park with Emi Buendia moving a little further forward to support Ollie Watkins

READ NEXT