How Aston Villa could line up against Chelsea

© Reuters

Aston Villa come into Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea without midfielder Ross Barkley, who is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Barkley had a strong start to his loan spell in the Midlands, but his performances quickly dropped off as the Villains suffered a dip in form, with the likes of John McGinn playing a much more important role in the middle throughout the campaign.

Fellow midfielder Morgan Sanson will miss out through a knee injury, while right-back Matty Cash is also out of action through injury.

In the absence of Cash, Ezri Konsa has been moved across to right-back, while Kourtney Hause has come into the heart of the back four alongside Tyrone Mings.

They will shield goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who has shone since his move from Arsenal with 15 Premier League clean sheets so far in his first season in the Midlands.

Meanwhile, McGinn and Marvelous Nakamba looked solid in front of the back four in Aston Villa's recent 2-1 away victory over Tottenham Hotspur, and they could both start again on Sunday.

The Villains' talisman Jack Grealish made his first start since his recovery from a shin injury in that 2-1 win, and their captain should play a key role in the attack again.

He will support Ollie Watkins, who scored the winner last time out to take his tally to 14 league goals for the season alongside five assists in his first campaign in the top flight after a move from Brentford at the beginning of the season.

Aston Villa possible starting XI: Martinez; Konsa, Hause, Mings, Targett; Nakamba, McGinn; Traore, Grealish, El Ghazi; Watkins

> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this clash