Team News: Tim Iroegbunam named in Aston Villa XI for Ajax game

Tim Iroegbunam has been named in the Aston Villa XI for the first leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie against Ajax.

The 20-year-old has endured a frustrating campaign spent either injured or on Unai Emery's substitutes' bench, failing to make a single start.

However, the midfielder surprisingly gets the nod on Thursday night, with Emery making a total of five alterations from the team that began Saturday's Premier League fixture at Luton Town.

Emery has had to find a balance with Villa involved in a potentially-pivotal contest against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and Morgan Rogers has also come into the team for his first start since joining from Middlesbrough in January.

Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and and Moussa Diaby have also been drafted into the first XI for the encounter in Amsterdam.

Matty Cash, Alex Moreno, Leon Bailey, John McGinn and the injured Jacob Ramsey are the players to drop out of the team.

Meanwhile, Ajax head coach John van't Schip has selected an identical team to the one that started the 2-0 triumph against FC Utrecht at the weekend.

That should see Ajax line up with a 5-4-1 formation, with Jordan Henderson featuring in central midfield and Brian Brobbey leading the attack.

Former Manchester City youngster Carlos Forbs and ex-Middlesbrough frontman Chuba Akpom are selected on the substitutes' bench.

Ajax: Ramaj; Gooijer, Rensch, Kaplan, Hato, Sosa; Hlynsson, Henderson, Mannsverk, Taylor; Brobbey

Subs: Rulli, Gorter, Gaaei, Akpom, Forbs, Medic, Rijkhoof, Van den Boomen, Fitz-Jim, Tahirovic, Martha

Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Lenglet, Pau, Digne; Diaby, Iroegbunam, Luiz, Rogers; Tielemans; Watkins

Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Cash, Carlos, McGinn, Moreno, Zaniolo, Bailey, Kesler-Hayden, Kellyman