Basel vs. Aston Villa team news: Unai Emery makes eight changes for Europa League game

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has made as many as eight changes for Thursday's Europa League fixture against Basel.

On the back of the effort required to beat Arsenal on Saturday and with a trip to West Ham United to come on Sunday, Emery has taken the decision to rest many of his key players.

Only Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana have retained their places from the dramatic triumph over the Gunners in the Premier League.

With goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez not with the squad, Marco Bizot deputises between the sticks, while Lamare Bogarde is introduced to the midfield.

Evann Guessand and Jadon Sancho are given opportunities to impress from the flank, with Donyell Malen leading the line.

Emery has opted to only select 10 substitutes. Even though he is allotted 12, Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott does not feature.

© Imago / Geisser

Basel go full-strength for Aston Villa game

Meanwhile, Basel boss Ludovic Magnin has retained the same starting lineup from the weekend's 2-1 victory at FC Winterthur.

Former Liverpool attacker Xherdan Shaqiri is the most notable name in the team, the legendary Swiss already having an incredible 11 goals and nine assists for the season in all competitions.

He is partnered in attack by Benie Traore, the former Sheffield United player who has failed to hit the heights of his first campaign at the club.

Basel XI: Hitz; Tsunemoto, Adjetey, Daniliuc, Schmid; Metinho, Leroy, Bacanin; Traore, Shaqiri, Otele

Subs: Ajeti, Barisic, Broschinski, Cisse, Junior Ze, Koindredi, Pfeiffer, Ruegg, Salah, Salvi, Soticek, Vouilloz

Aston Villa XI: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne; Bogarde, Onana; Guessand, Buendia, Sancho; Malen

Subs: Oakley, Wright, Maatsen, Garcia, Hemmings, McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans, Rogers, Watkins