Aston Villa set for Wolves trip as Emery backs Watkins
Wolves boss Rob Edwards demands passion for the derby with Aston Villa, praises Emery’s clear style and highlights Douglas Luiz, while monitoring Matt Doherty’s fitness.
Villa will face Lille in the Europa League last 16, a repeat of 2024 when Emery’s side advanced on penalties. Seeded Villa have home advantage in the second leg. First legs are on 12 March, with second legs on 19 March.
With Emi Martinez’s future uncertain, 21-year-old Oliwier Zych is impressing on loan at Rakow with strong save rates and clean sheets, putting himself in Villa’s potential succession frame.
Aston Villa sit 2nd in the Europa League form table with 7 wins from 8 and a 14-6 goal record.
La Liga’s Javier Tebas criticises Premier League spending and cites Everton and Aston Villa’s sales of women’s teams to parent firms, arguing England’s greater revenue gives double the investment power under Financial Fair Play.
Villa scouts were present for Genk vs Dinamo Zagreb, with profiles such as Zakaria El Ouahdi, Yaimar Medina and Matte Smets highlighted as recent links as Genk’s sales model draws Premier League interest.
Villa will trial a 50-seat singing section in the lower North Stand against Chelsea on 4 March to boost the Villa Park atmosphere, with redevelopment plans set to expand the stand.
Emery expected to start Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, Bailey, Rogers, Buendía and Watkins, with McGinn, Tielemans and Kamara out. Abraham is pushing to start and has a strong record against Wolves.
Underperforming Leon Bailey is urged to emulate ex-Villa forward Evann Guessand’s impact against Wolves, after low xG and limited end product in the Leeds draw.
Emery backs Watkins amid pressure from in-form Abraham for the Wolves trip. He urges goals and assists, warns against complacency at Molineux given his poor record there, and highlights Douglas Luiz’s influence.
