Smith set to bring back Villa regulars

Posted Saturday, September 28, 2019 by PA

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is expected to make wholesale changes again for his side’s home game against Burnley.

Smith made nine alterations for the midweek Carabao Cup win at Brighton, but the likes of Tom Heaton, Tyrone Mings, Jack Grealish, Bjorn Engels and Wesley are likely to return.

The Villa manager has reported no new injuries, but Jonathan Kodjia (fractured cheekbone), Henri Lansbury (ankle) and James Chester (hamstring) are still out.

Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson could make his return after a month out with a calf injury.

Sean Dyche has been reluctant to rush the Icelander back but he has trained this week with no setbacks and could replace Jeff Hendrick on the right.

Left-winger Dwight McNeil is expected to have recovered from a dead leg but midfielder Danny Drinkwater (ankle) is still sidelined.

Provisional Aston Villa squad: Heaton, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor, Nakamba, Targett, McGinn, Grealish, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Wesley, Hourihane, Elmohamady, Steer, Konsa, Jota, Davis.

Provisional Burnley squad: Pope, Hart, Lowton, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Gibson, Bardsley, Pieters, Long, Cork, Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil, Lennon, Brady, Gudmundsson, Barnes, Wood, Rodriguez, Vydra, Peacock-Farrell.