Aston Villa will look to continue their push for automatic promotion to the Premier League when they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night.
The Villans currently lie in third position and four points adrift of second-place Cardiff City after picking up four points from the last nine available.
The Midlands outfit missed the opportunity to close the gap on the top two when their home match with Queens Park Rangers was postponed on Saturday because of the snow, and while that would have been a blow it has given some of their key players more time to regain their fitness after injury.
Steve Bruce will know that his team need to keep picking up wins if they are to get the return to the top flight that they are craving, and he will certainly take some solace from the fact that the Mackems are bottom of the Championship table and have the second worst home record in the division.
Bruce brought Mohamed Elmohamady, Glenn Whelan and Lewis Grabbban into the XI in their previous league game against Sheffield Wednesday, and the 57-year-old will be considering making changes against Chris Coleman’s men too given that his team weren’t at their best against the Owls despite running out 4-2 winners.
Here is how Aston Villa must line up against Sunderland on Tuesday to get a vital three points, ahead of Sam Johnstone in goal…
Defence
Villa lined up with a back four of Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, John Terry and Alan Hutton in the win against Sheffield Wednesday, and Bruce may have to make one enforced change for the visit to Sunderland.
Hutton came off with an injury against the Owls and was replaced by Neil Taylor, and the Scotland international is a doubt for the trip north to the Stadium of Light.
Axel Tuanzebe could also be fit again after missing the clash at Hillsborough through injury, and the Manchester United should come in for Elmohamady at right-back if he is 100% fit.
Midfield
Bruce brought Glenn Whelan back into the starting XI in place of Mile Jedinak against Sheffield Wednesday, and he started alongside Robert Snodgrass, Conor Hourihane and Josh Onomah in the midfield quartet.
The decision to bring 34-year-old into the team would have been a surprise given he had five minutes of Championship football since January 13, and Jedinak should return to the side at the Stadium of Light alongside Hourihane.
Snodgrass is undroppable right now and if Albert Adomah is fit again he must also start on the opposite flank given the brilliant form he has been in this season, with Onomah dropping to the substitutes’ bench.
Attack
Scott Hogan and Lewis Grabban both started in attack against Sheffield Wednesday, with the former now four Championship matches without finding the net.
Meanwhile, former Sunderland striker Grabban has scored twice in his last two appearances for Villa, including one against Hillsborough, and he will relish the opportunity to come up against his former team to try and find the net for the third successive match.
Jack Grealish is another of those returning from injury and even if he is only 95% fit to face Sunderland, he has to be named in the XI because Bruce can’t afford to leave his best players out in the club’s bid to secure a top-two finish.
Do you agree, Villa fans? Let us know below.
