Aston Villa lineup vs. Young Boys: Predicted XI for Europa League clash

Aston Villa could be without three players for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Young Boys at Villa Park.

Tyrone Mings (thigh) and Andres Garcia (unspecified) both remain sidelined with injuries, while Amadou Onana (muscle) will be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing last weekend’s 2-1 win at Leeds United in the Premier League.

Morgan Rogers scored two second half goals to help Villa come from behind to beat Leeds and he may retain his starting spot in the final third against Young Boys, but head coach Unai Emery will look to freshen up his team in a few positions.

Donyell Malen started and scored as a central striker in Villa’s 2-0 Europa League win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv three weeks ago and he could be preferred to lead the line again ahead of first-choice forward Ollie Watkins.

Jadon Sancho and Evann Guessand will both be pushing to start on the flanks, with Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn potentially making way if they are recalled, while midfielder Ross Barkley is now eligible to play in the Europa League after replacing the injured Mings in Villa’s List A squad.

Barkley could be handed a rare start in the middle of the pitch alongside Lamare Bogarde, with Youri Tielemans - who scored in a 3-0 Champions League win against Young Boys last season - and Boubacar Kamara potentially dropping down to the substitutes’ bench.

Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres may retain their places at centre-back, protecting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but Victor Lindelof and Ian Maatsen will be hoping to force their way into the first XI at full-back at the expense of Matty Cash and Lucas Digne.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Martinez; Lindelof, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Barkley; Guessand, Rogers, Sancho; Malen