Aston Villa team news: Unai Emery makes SIX changes for FA Cup tie at Tottenham Hotspur

Manager Unai Emery has named his team for Aston Villa’s FA Cup third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

Villa reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup last season, losing 3-0 at Wembley to a Crystal Palace team that went on to win the cup in their next game and suffer the biggest upset in history in the one after that.

Emery has made no fewer than six changes for Villa’s third round game against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a place in the fourth round on the line.

Marco Bizot starts in goal with Emiliano Martínez injured. The Dutch veteran came on at half time in Wednesday’s goalless draw against Palace. James Wright has been named on the bench.

Donyell Malen comes in for Ollie Watkins up front, with Emi Buendía picked alongside John McGinn and Morgan Rogers behind the striker.

Emery opts for changes at the back

Emery has given Youri Tielemans a rest by picking Lamare Bogarde to play in the centre of midfield and has also been able to exercise some flexibility in defence thanks to the return from injury of Pau Torres.

He’ll play to the left of Ezri Konsa while Ian Maatsen gets the nod at left-back and Matty Cash continues on the right.

Villa have also been able to welcome Tyrone Mings back from injury. The former skipper has been named among the substitutes after a couple of months on the sidelines.

Villa team news in full

Starting XI: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Kamara, McGinn, Rogers, Buendía, Malen

Substitutes: Wright, Lindelöf, Mings, Tielemans, Watkins, Digne, García, Sancho, Hemmings

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