Nott'm Forestvs.Aston Villa

The England international had to come off at half time in Tuesday's 3-2 Champions League win over RB Leipzig with a "small injury", Unai Emery confirmed, and his availability for the weekend is therefore clouded in uncertainty.

Leon Bailey is in the same boat with his hamstring injury, while Jacob Ramsey is the only definite absentee at this stage; his thigh problem should render him unavailable until the New Year.

Even if Watkins is cleared to play on Saturday, Emery should certainly side with Jhon Duran, who came off the bench to score in midweek after also netting the winner against Southampton in the Premier League.

Duran ought to join Morgan Rogers and John McGinn in the final third, but rotation cannot be ruled out amid a hectic schedule, so Jaden Philogene could earn a rare start on the right-hand side.

Philogene making an appearance would allow Emery to move Matty Cash to a right-back role and give Ezri Konsa a rest, while Amadou Onana could also step in for Boubacar Kamara in the centre.

Ian Maatsen for Lucas Digne is another natural change that the visiting boss could make, but there should not be any respite for Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Cash, Carlos, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; Philogene, Rogers, McGinn; Duran

Written by

Ben Knapton