Aston Villa predicted line-up vs. Burnley: Five changes made with big Onana and McGinn calls

After crushing Nottingham Forest at Villa Park to set up a Europa League final against SC Freiburg later this month, Aston Villa now turn their attention back to the Premier League and the task of securing a berth in next season’s Champions League – but Unai Emery could rest several players for Sunday’s game against relegated Burnley.

Not only does Emery have to decide which players to rest and rotate as a gruelling season reaches its climax, but Villa have several players out with injuries, most notably key midfielder Amadou Onana, who missed Thursday’s semi-final win over Forest with a calf problem.

With kick-off fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Aston Villa team news and injury updates below, along with our prediction for Emery’s starting XI against Burnley this weekend.

Could Amadou Onana be back to face Burnley this weekend?

Aston Villa’s biggest injury worry heading into the final weeks of the season concerns Belgian midfielder Onana, who suffered a calf injury during the first leg against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground and has missed both of the club’s matches since.

While Emery has stopped short of providing a detailed timeline for Onana’s comeback, he told reporters prior to Thursday night’s game that the 24-year-old would “obviously” not be involved against Nottingham Forest and there are no indications that he is likely to be back in training ahead of the match against Burnley.

With Onana likely to be sidelined for at least a fortnight by his injury, the earliest likely return date would be the game against Liverpool next weekend, but he could be touch and go right up to the eve of the Europa League final in Istanbul on 20 May.

Other players known to be absent due to injury are young winger Alysson, who suffered an adductor injury shortly after returning to training following a groin problem and is facing a battle to play again this season, and Boubacar Kamara, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to a knee injury.

John McGinn among players who could be rested by Aston Villa

Emery is also likely to ring the changes amid a draining run of fixtures in order to ensure that his players are fresh and fit for the Europa League final – with John McGinn, whose two goals ensured Villa’s victory over Nottingham Forest, among the candidates to be benched.

The Scotsman only returned to training shortly before the semi-final second leg on Thursday after suffering a minor thigh injury, and could be rested to keep him at full fitness for the closing weeks of the campaign.

Players such as Lamare Bogarde, Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey could come into the starting line-up in order to rest key players, with at least a handful of changes likely as Emery searches for ways to shuffle his pack. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins could also get a reduced workload, but with plenty still on the line in the Premier League, they are still likely to start against Burnley.

Aston Villa predicted starting XI vs. Burnley (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Maatsen, Torres, Konsa, Cash; Luiz, Bogarde; Sancho, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins.