Here is how we predict Aston Villa will line up against Middlesbrough this evening:
Aston Villa have had a mixed start to the new campaign and they will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they host Middlesbrough later today.
Villa were looking on the up prior to the international break, but a 0-0 draw with strugglers Brentford saw fans vent their frustration yet again, and manager Steve Bruce knows how important it is to get three points on the board against Boro.
In early team news, Jonathan Kodjia could return although a place on the bench is the most likely option as he aims to return to full match fitness. Young trio Josh Onomah, Keinan Davies and Andre Green all came off injured at the weekend and, following Bruce’s comments about fatigue, the trio look set for a spell out of the spotlight.
There have been calls for Albert Adomah to get a chance having been overlooked recently, and Villa would be wise to reinstate the 29-year-old, while James Bree’s lacklustre performance against Brentford should see him replaced by Ritchie De Laet.
Villa are currently 18th in the Championship with six points from their first six matches while tonight’s opponents Middlesbrough are four points better off in sixth position.
Bearing everything in mind here is how we expect Villa to line up when they face Garry Monk’s side in a few hours:
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