Aston Villa Forced Into Midfield Shake-Up for Nottingham Forest Clash
Barkley set for a starting role as Emery manages midfield absences
Unai Emery faces a tactical reshuffle in central midfield when Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with squad depth already tested by the midweek European victory over Belgian champion Club Brugge.
Joao Gomes will serve the third and final match of an automatic three-game domestic suspension. He received a straight red card for violent conduct on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and Football Association disciplinary regulations require such dismissals to carry a mandatory three-match ban across domestic league and cup fixtures.
The midfield shortage is increased by injuries to Brian Madjo and Leon Goretzka, both ruled out of the weekend match. Ross Barkley is therefore positioned to enter the starting lineup alongside Boubacar Kamara in Villa’s central double-pivot.
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Barkley returned to Aston Villa on a permanent transfer in July 2024 after a season with Luton Town. His profile differs from Gomes’: where Gomes provides defensive aggression and ball-winning capacity, Barkley offers progressive ball-carrying, passing range, and dynamic forward positioning beside Kamara’s defensive anchor role.
Villa are also monitoring right-back Matty Cash, who missed the victory over Club Brugge because of muscle soreness. His availability remains subject to final fitness assessments ahead of kick-off. If Cash is unavailable for a second consecutive match, Emery is expected to retain the defensive line used in European competition.
That unit would place Zion Suzuki in goal, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres as the central defenders, and Ian Maatsen at left-back. Torres previously won the UEFA Europa League under Emery at Villarreal before moving to Villa Park in July 2023, while Maatsen arrived from Chelsea in the summer. Both provide composure in buildup play and recovery speed in a back four still developing positional familiarity.
At the other end of the pitch, Nicolas Jackson is projected to lead the attack as Villa seek greater clinical efficiency inside the opposition penalty area. John McGinn, Emi Buendia, and George Hemmings are expected to form the attacking midfield trio behind him.
The supporting unit is intended to provide high-energy movement and late runs into the box. Buendia is continuing his reintegration after missing the entire 2023–24 season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while his creative distribution is paired with McGinn’s work rate.
Aston Villa’s anticipated starting lineup against Nottingham Forest features Suzuki in goal; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Torres, and Maatsen in a back four; Kamara and Barkley in central midfield; McGinn, Buendia, and Hemmings in advanced midfield positions; and Jackson as the central forward.
