Aston Villa’s predicted XI to face Wolves

Aston Villa will aim to get their 2019/20 campaign back on track when they visit Molineux on Sunday for a West Midlands derby clash with Wolves.

Villa, who sit 16th in the league table, have suffered consecutive losses at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool having won successive top-flight games against Norwich City and Brighton. 

Dean Smith’s side will come up against a Wolves side who have experienced something of a resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo after an inconsistent start to the season, with the Wanderers currently on an 11-game unbeaten run in all competitions. 

This West Midlands derby is likely to produce an interesting affair between two teams who faced off only two weeks ago in the Carabao Cup, though Wolves’ weakened squad for the last-16 tie is likely to have produced an inaccurate reflection of how tight Sunday’s contest is likely to be. 

Here is a potential starting XI that Dean Smith could line up with for the encounter with Nuno’s side. 

Smith can be expected to name an unchanged defence to the team who narrowly lost out to Liverpool at Villa Park, with Tom Heaton marshalling a back-four consisting of Matt Targett, Tyrone Mings, Bjorn Engels and Frederic Guilbert. 

In midfield, the Villa manager will have a number of big decisions to make, largely determined by how much damage he believes Wolves’ attack could cause. 

Marvellous Nakamba’s form makes him a definite selection for Villa, although Conor Hourihane could earn a starting berth at the expense of Douglas Luiz if Smith opts to deploy a more attacking combination of midfielders.

That would see the Irishman sitting behind the duo of John McGinn and Jack Grealish.

Despite scoring last weekend, Trézéguet could drop to the bench to make way for the returning Grealish, who will be keen to put in an impressive performance having not been selected by Gareth Southgate for England’s upcoming international fixtures.

Wesley is likely to start for Smith’s side, as the Brazilian bids to build on his four Premier League goals so far this season.