Aston Villa's push for Champions League qualification resumes this weekend after the March international break as Wolves head to Villa Park on Saturday.
Unai Emery's side currently have a three point cushion in the top four, but fifth-placed Tottenham have a game in hand against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to come. Manchester United - who remain in the race for Champions League football - are nine points off Villa, but also have a game in hand against Sheffield United to play.
Ahead of the clash with Wolves, Emery will be hoping no more of his players pick up injuries on international duty after Matty Cash appeared to sustain a muscle problem while playing for Poland last Thursday. Players and staff returned to Bodymoor Heath on Monday morning as preparation for the final two months of the season began, and they will be joined by their international teammates in the coming days.
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ZANIOLO LIFTS LID ON FUTURE
It was Nicolo Zaniolo who won Villa a point against West Ham in Villa's last Premier League fixture, before he then met up with the Italy national team. The 24-year-old has been speaking about his future to Italian media and admits he has been frustrated with his lack of game time while on loan at Villa this season.
Speaking of his future, Zaniolo told Corriere dello Sport: “Who knows?! I asked my agent, Claudio Vigorelli, to inform me only if and when there is something concrete. Now I have to concentrate on Aston Villa.
“I deserve more chances at Aston Villa, but I can say that Emery is one of the strongest coaches, I put him on the same level as Guardiola, Klopp and Mourinho. He is improving me in every aspect.
“Yes, I played less than expected. But I think a period of adaptation to a different football and country is physiological. When I arrived in England, I didn’t even speak the language. It is difficult to acclimatise, also because many of my teammates are married and I spent a lot of time alone.”
CLARET & BLUE CATCH-UP
KONSA IN LINE FOR ENGLAND START
Ezri Konsa could be in line to make his first start for England this evening after his impressive performance against Brazil on Saturday night. He came on for Kyle Walker in the first half after the Manchester City man picked up an injury.
Konsa was excellent in the 70 minutes he played as he kept Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior quiet and used the ball well. Walker's injury is not thought to be too serious and City are hopeful he will be available for Sunday's crucial Premier League game against Arsenal.
Gareth Southgate will take 23 players to Germany this summer and Konsa has to be one of them given his versatility in defence. He has operated at right-back throughout this season for Villa and will be a strong option for England to bring off the bench at the Euros.
TORRES SHOCKED BY MCGINN
Villa remain without their skipper John McGinn for the next two league games against Wolves and Man City. Villa missed his energy and poise in midfield at West Ham last time out, something not lost on his teammates.
“Even Pau Torres came up to me the other day and he said ‘McGinn has energy every day, I don’t know how he does it’," Ollie Watkins said to Stadium Astro. "Then he comes sprinting into the gym, pretending to do the bleep test!"
Despite the blow, there is a positive that McGinn will be fresh to attack the final seven league games of the season and the club's pursuit of winning silverware in the form of the Europa Conference League.
McGinn played 85 minutes of Scotland's 4-0 defeat to Netherlands at the Johan Cruyff Arena last Friday and will likely start against Northern Ireland this evening. McGinn is only 12 goals away from matching Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish as the country's top scorer in history.
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