Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery is contemplating whether to make significant changes to the side which beat Tottenham Hotspur last weekend as his charges look to extend their 100 per cent winning start to their Europa League campaign when they travel from Villa Park to face Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday. Although the Villans fell behind last time out, thanks to Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur giving the north Londoners an early lead, Morgan Rogers cancelled out the Uruguayan's opener with a long range effort before Emiliano Buendia's curling finish completed the comeback. Go Ahead Eagles were condemned to a narrow defeat by PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie on Saturday, despite Milan Smit grabbing what proved to be a consolation, and GIVEMESPORT has predicted who will be involved for the Dutch side and Aston Villa when they lock horns at De Adelaarshorst. Go Ahead Eagles Team News Go Ahead Eagles are still expected to be without Pim Saathof until 2026 after the 21-year-old central defender suffered a cruciate ligament tear in May, while Swedish striker Victor Edvardsen will also be unavailable against Aston Villa due to being forced to undergo knee surgery. Soren Tengstedt has failed to make a single appearance this season, with injury keeping him out since August, but Smit is on course to lead the line for head coach Melvin Boel, who took charge in the summer. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Go Ahead Eagles boss Boel admitted that he will pick a side prepared to fight for possession and capable of stopping Aston Villa when they attempt to break away at pace. He said: "I've gone through Aston Villa's squad, and there are precious few weak links. It's a team with so many good players, and they've also been in excellent form in recent matches. They beat Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and, if you watch that match, they play at a breakneck pace. But if we've shown anything in the Europa League, it's that we're not without a chance. There are always chances. We'll have to fight our way into the match, but also handle it professionally." Go Ahead Eagles Predicted XI Go Ahead Eagles Predicted XI: De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Meulensteen, Linthorst; Suray, Breum, Margaret; Smit. Go Ahead Eagles Predicted Substitutes: Plogmann (GK), Jansen (GK), Van Zwam (DEF), Dirksen (DEF), Adelgaard (DEF), Twigt (MID), Weijenberg (MID), Goudmijn (MID), Salah Rahmouni (MID), Sivertsen (FWD), Boakye (FWD), Stokkers (FWD). Aston Villa Team News Youri Tielemans will not be involved for Aston Villa as he continues to nurse a calf problem, while there is doubt over whether central defender Tyrone Mings could be included in the matchday squad as he has missed the clashes with Feyenoord, Burnley and Tottenham as he recovers from an ankle injury. Andres Garcia is a certainty to be out of contention, despite nearing his return from a muscle issue. Ollie Watkins, who pulled out of the England squad during the international break, could be given the nod to start after coming off the bench last weekend. Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne and Morgan Rogers - who are pocketing a combined total of £360,000-per-week before bonuses - are among the names who are likely to drop to the bench if Emery chooses to rotate, where they are expected to be joined by Harvey Elliott. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Go Ahead Eagles, Emery said: "The players who are not here because they are injured are Youri Tielemans, Andres Garcia and Ross Barkley because he's not in the list for this competition." Aston Villa Predicted XI
