Rashford starts, Mings decision: Aston Villa starting XI vs Newcastle predicted

Rashford starts, Mings decision: Aston Villa starting XI vs Newcastle predicted

Unai Emery's Aston Villa welcome Newcastle United to Villa Park tonight (5:30pm kick-off)

Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa (Image: Getty Images )

Aston Villa host fellow Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United this evening.

Unai Emery’s side sit five points behind Newcastle but can cut the gap to just two with a victory.

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Villa have won their last four league games and defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3–2 at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Although they were knocked out of the competition, Villa will now be motivated to return to the top table of European football via a top-five finish this season.

After playing Newcastle, Villa travel to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Tuesday night, before their FA Cup semi-final showdown against Crystal Palace at Wembley next weekend.

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Emi Martínez will start in goal against Newcastle, likely behind a back four of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, and Lucas Digne.

Newcastle forward Alexander Isak is arguably the best number nine in the Premier League right now, having scored 21 goals this season.

Mings could be recalled by Emery to help contain the Swedish international, while Digne will be tasked with stopping Jacob Murphy from supplying his teammate.

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In midfield, Emery could keep Amadou Onana in the double pivot alongside Boubacar Kamara, freeing up Youri Tielemans to operate further forward.

John McGinn will add even more bite to central areas, although he could play off the left.

Morgan Rogers will likely start from the right, while Marcus Rashford may remain in the starting XI, spearheading the attack. Emery has favoured him over Ollie Watkins in five of the club’s last six games.

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Predicted VIlla XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Onana, Kamara, Rogers, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford.

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