Unai Emery makes FOUR changes: Aston Villa team news for Premier League game against Nottingham Forest

Manager Unai Emery has named his team for Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

Villa are looking for a tenth consecutive home win and a response to Tuesday’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal. Forest visit Villa Park for both teams’ first match of 2026.

Emery has made four changes from the starting line-up against Arsenal including the returns of Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara from suspension.

Villa skipper John McGinn replaces Jadon Sancho on the right, while Kamara slots straight back in to replace injured central midfielder Amadou Onana.

Full-backs back in flight

Emery has swapped both of his full-backs for the visit of Forest this afternoon.

Lucas Digne was preferred against Arsenal but Ian Maatsen comes back in after a run of appearances prior to Villa’s game at the Emirates Stadium.

Cash has also been given an immediate recall after suspension and will play at right-back against his old club, with Lamare Bogarde dropping to the bench.

There’s a place on the bench for TJ Carroll, a 19-year-old defender who signed professional terms last summer. He joins George Hemmings and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba among the substitutes.

Villa team news in full

Starting XI: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelöf, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendía, Rogers, Watkins

Substitutes: Bizot, Digne, García, Carroll, Bogarde, Hemmings, Sancho, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba

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