Aston Villa take on Nottingham Forest in the Championship this afternoon.
Aston Villa starting line-up: Gollini; De Laet, Elphick, Chester, Cissokho; Gardner, Westwood; Ayew, McCormack, Grealish; Kodjia.
Aston Villa substitutes: Bunn, Baker, Richards, Bacuna, Amavi, Jedinak, Gestede.
Nottingham Forest starting line-up: Stojkovic; Lichaj, Mancienne, Perquis, Fox; Carayol, Kasami, Lansbury, Cash, Osborn; Vellios.
Nottingham Forest substitutes: Henderson, Mills, Dumitru, Pereira, Licá, Lam, Grant.
Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in the Championship today as they look to bounce back from the 3-1 away defeat to Bristol City from before the international break.
Villa spent heavily in the final days of the transfer window, with winger Albert Adomah and striker Jonathan Kodjia arriving from Middlesbrough and Bristol City respectively.
There’s no place for Adomah in today’s Villa squad, suggesting he may not be fully fit, but Kodjia leads the attack as he seeks to build on last season’s 19-goal campaign for Bristol City.
Roberto Di Matteo has handed starts to summer signings Pierluigi Gollini, Ritchie De Laet, Tommy Elphick, James Chester and Ross McCormack, but midfielder Mile Jedinak is only on the bench.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest start life without winger Oliver Burke following his move to German side RB Leipzig, with Philippe Montanier looking to build on a decent start to the new campaign.
Winger Mustapha Carayol has been brought in to fill the void left by Burke’s departure, and he starts this afternoon, whilst Apostolos Vellios starts up front with Britt Assombalonga out through injury.
Recent signing Vladimir Stojkovic starts in goal, whilst ex-Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj starts against his former club this afternoon.
New additions Nicolao Dumitru and Lica are both on the bench for Montanier this afternoon, with both attacking players looking to make strong starts to life in England.
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