Aston Villa have been handed an injury setback with three key players set to miss the match against Manchester United.
Manchester United return to action in the Premier League against Aston Villa at Old Trafford after a lengthy break.
The lack of sharpness due to only playing one game a week was evident against Newcastle, where the Red Devils suffered their first loss under Michael Carrick. It was the club’s second game in a week, and the players looked sluggish with the performance matching that.
Villa sit on the same points as United with 51 points, as Carrick’s side sit above in third due to goal difference.
For the race for Champions League football, this game is huge, with the winner having a three-point cushion.
Villa without three players
In terms of injury news, Aston Villa have been hampered by key injuries, especially to their midfield, with Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara out, and will be missing the clash against United according to the Birmingham Mail.
Unai Emery has also revealed that Matty Cash, who suffered a knock against Chelsea, is facing a race against time to be fit to play.
He said: “Matty Cash, he is progressing well. We will see if he can be with us on Sunday or not. Tielemans is progressing well, but is still working individually.”
Villa could be lining up with a midfield of Amadou Onana, Douglas Luiz and possibly John McGinn, who recently returned from injury himself.
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Difficult game for United
The Birmingham side has been in a big slump of late, winning only three of their last eight matches in all competitions and lost their last league game 4-2 to Chelsea.
However, despite their poor form, they play a brand of football that the club have tended to struggle against under Carrick.
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A compact 4-4-2 similar to the one United play with players packed into the midfield. Villa also have players that can be lethal on the transition, like Morgan Rogers, who punished United last time out and Ollie Watkins.
It will be a big test of the composure and alertness of the players to be able to deal with the threat on the counter, as well as showing the intensity they have shown previously to put Villa under pressure immediately. Something they lacked against Newcastle.
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