Predicted Aston Villa XI at Burton Albion: Cash and Watkins start, Grealish on the bench

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Aston Villa travel to Burton Albion tonight in the Carabao Cup hoping to kick-off their 2020/21 campaign in style against League One opposition.

Dean Smith would dearly love his team to start with a solid win as they look to lay the foundations for a better season than the last one.

The Villans survived on the final day of the 2019/20 campaign and the boss will hope his team can enjoy a more comfortable campaign this time around.

Tonight’s team could be a mixture of players from the first-team and fringe member of Smith’s squad.

Here is a look at how Villa might line-up this evening.

In goal and back four

Villa are perhaps short of goalkeeping options at this moment in time.

Emi Martinez is due to sign from Arsenal but that won’t be in time to feature at the Pirelli Stadium.

With Tom Heaton injured still and Orjan Nyland and Lovre Kalinic down the pecking order, that could open the door for Jed Steer to return after his Achilles problem.

New signing Matty Cash should start at right-back following his arrival from Nottingham Forest.

Neil Taylor might get the chance to pick up some game time on the opposite side of the defence.

At centre-back, Tyrone Mings might play and he could be partnered by Kortney Hause, with Ezri Konsa and Bjorn Engels in reserve.

Midfield

Douglas Luiz perhaps won’t be a starter this evening so Marvelous Nakamba might get the chance to shine.

The £11 million man didn’t look too bad when called upon last season and will hope to kick on this time around.

Jacob Ramsey has featured in pre-season and the 19-year-old academy prospect might be the latest player to step off the club’s conveyor belt of talent this season.

Alongside him, some rare minutes could be given to Henri Lansbury.

The £40,000-a-week midfielder barely featured last season and could probably leave if an offer is forthcoming before the deadline.

In attack

Jack Grealish and Trezeguet will probably earn the chance to put their feet up ahead of the weekend’s league opener.

That could see Jota and Anwar El Ghazi get the chance to impress from the flanks.

Both players will want to impress their manager ahead of the new campaign and allowing them both to start could be ideal.

Spearheading the attack it seems for all the world that Ollie Watkins will get the chance to start.

The striker signed from Brentford for a fee which could rise to £33 million.

Keinan Davis and Mbwana Samatta will also be in contention.

Here is how Smith’s team might look this evening.