FA Cup
Mar 30, 2025 1.30pm
0
3
HT : 0 0
FT Deepdale
  • Will Keane 28' yellowcard
  • Ben Whiteman 67' yellowcard
  • goal Marcus Rashford 58'
  • goal Marcus Rashford 63'
  • goal Jacob Ramsey 71'

Preston North End vs. Aston Villa team news: Unai Emery makes Ollie Watkins decision for FA Cup quarter-final tie

Preston, Aston Villa FA Cup starting lineups confirmed: Emery makes Watkins decision

Preston North End and Aston Villa have announced their starting lineups for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at Deepdale.

Unai Emery hinted that he would assess the players returning from international duty and that rotation was an option given the fixtures that Villa have on their schedule.

The most notable decision made by the Spaniard is leaving Ollie Watkins on the substitutes' bench, the forward having been nursing a minor injury during the international break.

Marcus Rashford has instead been chosen down the centre of the attack, Jacob Ramsey returning on the left flank, while Marco Asensio is also handed a start.

John McGinn drops down to the substitutes' bench, with a change at left-back seeing Lucas Digne recalled in place of Ian Maatsen.

Preston handed Woodman blow

Meanwhile, Preston have been forced into a change between the sticks with goalkeeper David Cornell starting in place of the injured Freddie Woodman.

Robbie Brady, Andrew Hughes and Ben Whiteman have all been brought into the side with Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Ryan Porteous both ineligible and Ryan Ledson serving a suspension.

Despite failing to score against Portsmouth before the international break, Will Keane and Emil Riis have retained the spots in the final third.

Preston North End XI: Cornell; Meghoma, Storey, Hughes, Gibson, Brady; Whiteman, Thordarson, Frokjaer-Jensen; Keane, Riis

Subs: Stowell, Lindsay, Bauer, Pasiek, Tarry, Carroll, Mawene, Evans, Osmajic

Aston Villa XI Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford

Subs: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Torres, Onana, Malen, Watkins, McGinn

Author photo

Written by

POLL
Who will win Sunday's FA Cup clash between Preston and Aston Villa?
Preston North End 15%
Aston Villa 85%
Share this article:
Subscribe to our newsletter

Get FREE daily news and in-depth previews for games from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football — straight to your inbox.

Subscribe