Brighton vs. Aston Villa team news: Ollie Watkins decision made by Unai Emery amid transfer talk

Unai Emery has left Ollie Watkins out of Aston Villa's squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

At Friday's press conference, Emery admitted that the England international could leave Villa Park, amid interest from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.

With Watkins having not played any minutes during pre-season, the decision has been made to keep him out of the group for the game at the Amex Stadium.

With Tammy Abraham and Brian Madjo also not involved due to injuries, it appears that Ross Barkley may start as a false nine.

There is also the potential for Emiliano Buendia to be used in that role, while George Hemmings should also feature in the final third.

Although it was deemed likely that Joao Gomes would miss out with a calf issue, the summer signing starts in central midfield.

Fellow new arrivals Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri and Alejandro Garnacho are named on the substitutes' bench.

© Imago / Crystal Pix

Brighton make three changes for Villa game

Meanwhile, Fabian Hurzeler has made three changes to his Brighton XI for the fixture on the South coast.

Ferdi Kadioglu, Malick Yalcouye and Ibrahim Osman have all dropped out of the team that started against Tromso in the Conference League on Thursday.

Who plays where is unclear, with there being the potential of Mats Weiffer moving from right-back to central-midfield or Hurzeler switching to a back three with Lewis Dunk's inclusion resulting in three centre-backs being selected.

Maxim De Cuyper may also be used further down the left flank if a defender is used at full-back.

Brighton & Hove Albion XI: Verbruggen; Boscagli, Vuskovic, Dunk, De Cuyper, Wieffer, Hinshelwood, Gross, Ayari, Gomez, Rutter

Subs: David, Kostoulas, Costinha, Osman, Steele, Struijk, Svoboda, Yalcouye, Yohanna

Aston Villa XI: Bizot; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; McGinn, Kamara, Gomes, Buendia; Hemmings; Barkley

Subs: Suzuki, Mings, Ruggeri, Garnacho, Bogarde, Rowe, Alysson, Burrowes, Lynch