Aston Villa manager Unai Emery should not shy away from making a few alterations for Saturday's Premier League battle with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.

The Lions travel to the capital either side of a two-legged Champions League last-16 showdown with Club Brugge, whom they defeated 3-1 in their opening encounter in midweek.

While Villa are therefore in a commanding position before hosting the Belgian side in the second leg, the die is not quite cast, and Emery could therefore opt to keep some troops fresh for the return fixture.

Lucas Digne and Tyrone Mings are two candidates for a rest - Emery should err on the side of caution with the latter given his recent injury problems - so Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen could earn defensive recalls as Axel Disasi shifts across to centre-back.

The established midfield partnership of Youri Tielemans and John McGinn should not be broken up, though, while Morgan Rogers can also expect to start as the visitors' creative focal point yet again.

However, Paris Saint-Germain loanee Marco Asensio may have played his way into a start after his game-clinching penalty in Belgium; the Spaniard has four goals and four assists to show from his last nine league starts.

Jacob Ramsey could also inject some fresh legs into the attack in place of Marcus Rashford, but Ollie Watkins should spearhead the attack against the club he scored 49 goals in 143 appearances for.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Disasi, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins

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