Watkins and Abraham Face Crucial Fitness Test as Aston Villa Prepare Battle-Ready XI Against Bournemouth
Aston Villa need to put their Brentford loss behind them and secure victory against Bournemouth to stay in contention among Premier League title challengers.
The setback proved costly for Villa as Arsenal demolished Leeds United at Elland Road, although Manchester City's failure to defeat Tottenham Hotspur after taking a 2-0 lead keeps the second-place gap at just one point.
Most crucially, Villa maintain a seven-point advantage over sixth-place Liverpool, with qualifying for Champions League football in 2026-27 being the more achievable target for the 1982 European Cup champions.
Match Snapshot
Match Snapshot
Team News
Team News
Unai Emery's roster depth faces a significant challenge with Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all anticipated to remain unavailable due to injuries for an extended period. This situation opens the door for another starting opportunity for January signing Douglas Luiz, likely partnering with Amadou Onana.
Ollie Watkins has been dealing with a hamstring concern and his availability for the starting eleven remains uncertain, although Tammy Abraham's January transfer window arrival provides Villa with the option to utilize him as a substitute if necessary.
Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres are expected to form the central defensive partnership once more, while Ian Maatsen gets the preference over veteran Lucas Digne at left-back.
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup vs. Bournemouth
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup vs. Bournemouth
GK: Emiliano Martínez—The Argentine goalkeeper's shot-stopping capabilities are seldom doubted, however his decision-making during build-up play from the back remains inconsistent at best. Improved judgment will be essential for Villa to reach their objectives.
RB: Matty Cash—Has steadily evolved into one of the Premier League's finest right-backs, excelling in both offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
CB: Ezri Konsa—Anticipated to play a crucial role for England in this summer's World Cup, Konsa stands as the genuine standout of Villa's center-back pairing.
CB: Pau Torres—The Spanish defender is certainly a skilled player in his own capacity, though he's arguably more susceptible to errors than Konsa. Nevertheless, his ball-playing skills prove invaluable when building attacking sequences.
LB: Ian Maatsen—Four appearances in Villa's previous five Premier League matches indicate Maatsen currently holds the advantage over experienced defender Lucas Digne.
DM: Douglas Luiz—The Brazilian midfielder aims to rebuild his standing following disappointing periods at Juventus and during his loan at Nottingham Forest. Could emerge as an excellent January acquisition.
DM: Amadou Onana—The Belgian hasn't been a consistent starter this campaign but faces a crucial period between now and late May. Possesses excellent stamina and poses threats in both penalty areas.
RW: Jadon Sancho—Appears to be building confidence, though he's yet to record a Premier League goal or assist this season. The English winger will be hoping to change that statistic in this match.
AM: Morgan Rogers—Villa's standout performer this season has featured in all 24 Premier League fixtures and has only been withdrawn three times, never before the 81st minute. Seven goals appears modest for someone of Rogers's talent, but his overall contribution extends far beyond scoring.
LW: Emiliano Buendia—Having overcome his injury struggles, Buendia is swiftly demonstrating to fans why Villa were willing to invest up to £38 million for his signature in 2021.
ST: Ollie Watkins—Eight Premier League strikes represents a somewhat disappointing tally for Watkins, though he's been managing a heavy workload. Might be sufficiently recovered to start this fixture, but Tammy Abraham, who saw a goal ruled out during his second debut last weekend, stands ready if required.