Here is how we expect Aston Villa to line-up for their Championship encounter with Newcastle United.
Aston Villa compounded their winless 2017 with a midweek loss to Barnsley – meaning manager Steve Bruce has now overseen four consecutive defeats, leaving his side languishing in 16th place of the Championship standings.
Bruce takes his charges to table-toppers Newcastle United for a Monday evening fixture that highlights the contrasting fortunes of two former Premier League establishments.
Indeed, Newcastle are the division’s top scorers with 60 Championship goals so far this campaign. Conversely, Villa are the second lowest scorers on exactly half the number of strikes as the Magpies. Only Queens Park Rangers’ tally of 29 goals is lower than Bruce’s team.
In a possible attempt to rectify the issue, Bruce is likely to deploy a forward-thinking system – including a two-man front line supported by two old fashioned wingers for good measure.
Namely, Bruce’s potentially prolific strike duo of January signing Scott Hogan and the talismanic Jonathan Kodjia are expected to continue in the starting line-up, with Albert Adomah operating on the right flank and Jack Grealish deployed on the left.
The central midfield duo in Bruce’s 4-2-4 set-up should be Henri Lansbury and Conor Hourihane – with much expected of the January signings with regard work-rate and output, especially significant considering the likely selections of Grealish and Adomah.
Despite recent disappointments and losses, it is anticipated that Bruce will persist with the same defensive personnel that fell to the 3-1 Barnsley defeat.
Meanwhile, opponents Newcastle United will be without midfielder Isaac Hayden, who is in need of ankle surgery, but may be boosted with the return of goal-getter Dwight Gayle.
Here is Aston Villa’s predicted line-up in full:
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