Alex Moreno return, Ollie Watkins and Newcastle - Aston Villa's perfect Premier League return
Aston Villa return to action in the Premier League this week and a perfect month before the next international break includes positive injury news
Our dedicated Aston Villa reporter is always on the pulse of all things claret and blue, from major talking points to transfer news to match action, John Townley will bring you the very latest from Bodymoor Heath and Villa Park.
The Premier League resumes this weekend after the September international break and Aston Villa are looking to get back to winning ways as they host Crystal Palace at home on Saturday afternoon.
Unai Emery’s side have only played one Premier League match at Villa Park so far this season, winning 4-0 against Everton last month. That’s one of the two wins Villa have picked up since the start of the season, having also won 3-1 at Burnley, with defeats to Newcastle and Liverpool on the road.
Trips to St. James’ Park and Anfield are about as tough as it gets in the Premier League, but it is worrying that Emery’s team have shipped nine goals in their first three away matches of the league season. A clean sheet and three points would signal a perfect return to action this weekend for Villa, while a goal or two for Ollie Watkins would also be greatly received.
Watkins bagged a hat-trick in Villa’s 5-0 win at Hibernian in the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off tie, but has not scored in the club’s first four league games this term. He has scored just one goal in his last 11 Premier League appearances.
The Villa forward has recorded the highest xG (expected goals) of all players who are yet to find the back of the next so far this term. The goals will soon come for Watkins and Palace presents a brilliant opportunity to get off the mark in front of home fans.
Watkins has recorded four goal contributions and scored two goals in the six games he has played against Palace. He was overlooked by Gareth Southgate for a call-up to the England national team earlier this month as the Three Lions boss picked Callum Wilson and Eddie Nketiah ahead of him.
Villa boss Emery has asked Watkins to remain consistent in his mentality and how he applies himself in matches, because the goals will then follow.
Ahead of the clash with Palace, Villa were boosted by the return of Alex Moreno to full training. The left-back could feature for the first time since May, when he picked up a hamstring injury in the draw with Liverpool at Anfield in what was Villa’s penultimate fixture of the season.
Moreno transformed the way in which Villa played under Emery last term and might come straight back into the XI for Saturday’s game. If Villa win, they could climb as high as sixth, but that would be dependent on other results.
Villa would need to win and hope Newcastle get a result at Brentford, and Burnley take something from their match at Nottingham Forest. Brighton will likely stay in sixth place as they have a far superior goal difference than Villa heading into their weekend clash with Bournemouth.