Steven Gerrard has named John McGinn as the new Aston Villa captain, with the Scot one of seven undroppable players for the start of the Premier League season at Bournemouth.
The Villans take a trip to the Cherries to raise the curtain for the new campaign on August 6. Scott Parker led the south coast side back into the top-flight last season as runners-up to Fulham for the Championship title during the Dean Court natives’ second second-tier term.
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Aston Villa ended the last Premier League season in 14th place after a disappointing end to the term. Gerrard oversaw the Birmingham outfit rise to ninth up to April 1 after replacing Dean Smith. But they would fall out of the top-half after two wins over their last 11 games.
Gerrard has invested in his squad so far this summer in the hopes of building a side to push for European qualification. But question marks still reside over four spots in the Aston Villa line-up, while seven players, like McGinn, are undroppable ahead of visiting Bournemouth.
Gerrard’s seven Aston Villa undroppables for season-opener vs Bournemouth
Barring any injuries in the lead-up to Aston Villa visiting Bournemouth, Gerrard has seven players that he can consider undroppable. Emiliano Martinez, for one, will expect to start in goal at Dean Court, after keeping 11 clean sheets in 36 Premier League games last term.
Matty Cash will also expect to start at right-back after the Poland defender agreed a new, five-year contract in April. The 24-year-old was also a mainstay of the Villans’ plans during 2021/22 after starting all 38 top-flight fixtures, while offering four goals and three assists.
Gerrard arguably only has one undroppable player at centre-back among Aston Villa’s five options for the position. The England icon is likely to lean heavily on Diego Carlos leading his line after joining from Sevilla for £26m, having helped produce the best unit in La Liga.
Sevilla conceded a league-low 30 goals in 38 games and remained Real Madrid’s closest title threat up until May. Carlos should now start for Aston Villa on the opening day beside Cash at right-back, with £25m January arrival Lucas Digne from left-back at Bournemouth.
McGinn among Gerrard’s Aston Villa undroppables for Bournemouth trip
McGinn is also one of Gerrard’s undroppable players for Aston Villa’s trip to Bournemouth after taking over the captaincy. The Villans boss has confirmed he has taken the role away from Tyrone Mings, while Martinez is now vice-captain and Ashley Young the club captain.
The Scotland international should hold one of the Villa Park natives’ three central midfield roles beside summer signing Boubacar Kamara. Gerrard convinced Kamara to agree a free transfer on a five-year contract in May after allowing his contract with Marseille to expire.
Kamara will now offer Aston Villa a dedicated anchor in the engine room after emerging as one of the best ball winners in Ligue 1. He will also provide a platform for Gerrard to allow Philippe Coutinho to attack, having secured a permanent £17m transfer from Barcelona.
Coutinho should lock down the wide-left role as one of Gerrard’s seven undroppables with Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Digne, McGinn and Kamara when Aston Villa visit Bournemouth for the start of the Premier League campaign. But four spots remain up for grabs for August 6.
Four spots still up for grabs in Villans’ starting line-up for Dean Court visit
Gerrard still faces a decision over four spots in his Aston Villa line-up ahead of visiting Dean Court. Question marks still reside on who starts beside Carlos at Bournemouth, who plays with McGinn and Kamara in midfield, who features at right-wing and who starts at striker.
Mings would have expected to remain a first-choice option at centre-back, but faces a real challenge from Calum Chambers. The January signing from Arsenal impressed after leaving north London last term, and has continually delivered through the Villans’ pre-season ties.
Jacob Ramsey is also by no means guaranteed to start with McGinn and Kamara from the engine room at Bournemouth. The 21-year-old was a sensation in the top-flight last term with six goals over 34 games, starting 29. But he has had a tough summer and needs form.
The battle to start on the right-wing is also open between two of Smith’s signings from last summer, Emiliano Buendia and Leon Bailey. Neither emerged as undroppable players after joining Aston Villa, with Buendia starting 22 times and Bailey seven (partly due to injuries).
Neither Ollie Watkins nor Danny Ings can consider themselves to be undroppable ahead of Aston Villa visiting Bournemouth, as well. Watkins has not had the best pre-season and cut a frustrated figure, but was the Villans’ only player to score double figures (11) last season.
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