Unai Emery has made three changes to his Aston Villa starting XI for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Club Brugge in Belgium.
After Villa failed to find the back of the net in each of their last three Premier League fixtures, there had been speculation that Emery could make several changes to his side for the European encounter.
However, the Spaniard has opted against widespread alterations, limiting his changes to just three. Joao Gomes returns to the midfield as expected, with the Brazilian currently serving a suspension in domestic competition.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka comes into the side at right-back, while Pau Torres has also been restored to the heart of the defence.
Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Ross Barkley are the three players who drop out of the starting lineup, with Cash unavailable through injury.
Nicolas Jackson retains his place as Villa’s central striker, while Emiliano Buendia appears set to operate in the number 10 role behind the forward.
Meanwhile, new arrivals Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye will all begin the contest among the substitutes.
Former West Ham player named in Club Brugge XI for Aston Villa game
Elsewhere, former West Ham United midfielder Freddie Potts has been included in the Club Brugge starting lineup for the Champions League showdown.
Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko has made only two changes to the team that secured a 1-0 victory over Lommel in their previous outing.
Romeo Vermant and Mamadou Diakhon have dropped out of the side, with Carlos Forbs and Jan Virgili coming into the starting XI.
The Belgian side have enjoyed an impressive start to their domestic campaign, winning four of their opening five league matches while conceding only two goals.
Club Brugge XI: Sommer; Sabbe, Han-Beom, Mechele, Seys, Potts, Vetlesen, Vanaken, Forbs, Tresoldi, Virgili
Subs: Jackers, Vanden Driessche, Siquet, Spileers, Coulibaly, Tsawa, Lemarechal, Audoor, Diakhon, Vermant, Vasovic
Aston Villa XI: Suzuki; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Gomes; McGinn, Buendia, Hemmings; Jackson
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Barkley, Ruggeri, Garnacho, Abraham, Mbaye, Bogarde, Alysson