Aston Villa have sold Jack Grealish to Manchester City in a £100million deal but the club have already used up that money to bring in multiple new signings meaning they will have a revamped attacking department when they face Watford during the weekend.
Villa finished 11th on the Premier League table last season but several injuries really hampered their progress during the course of the campaign. So Dean Smith has made sure he adds depth to his first-team squad meaning we are not expected to see a repeat of the same.
Watford have moved up from the Championship but they are more or less a top division regular so Aston Villa will not have it easy during their opening weekend.
The Villa boss has several injuries to deal with while some of his new arrivals are still not fully fit, so Smith might have to use a few of his bench warmers against the Hornets.
Aston Villa team news vs Watford:
Villa spent a whopping £38million on Emi Buendia during the summer but the player has picked up a hip issue during pre-season and there’s a massive chance he will not be fit to start.
Ollie Watkins is another player who picked up an injury and he too could be an absentee this weekend. Ashley Young has been a very good signing for Villa but we don’t think he will be selected in the starting line-up.
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Axel Tuanzebe has joined from Manchester United on a loan deal but he too will start on the bench as Tyrone Mings and Konsa pair up in central defence.
Leon Bailey is another major summer signing for the Villa Park outfit but he is yet to training with his new teammates meaning he will not be available for the Watford game.
Danny Ings was one of those hush-hush signings for Aston Villa and with Watkins out injured, the former Southampton man will obviously be the first-choice centre-forward.
Aston Villa’s predicted line-up vs Watford:
Predicted XI(4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Ramsey; Ghazi, Ings, Traore.
Data courtesy Whoscored.
