da cassino： Aston Villa will look to continue their rise up the Championship table with a win over second-tier promotion rivals Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.
da cassino online： A disappointing start to the season saw the Villans hierarchy axe Roberto Di Matteo in October, but the Midlands outfit have been in fantastic form since then and are unbeaten in their last seven league fixtures under the Italian’s successor Steve Bruce.
However, they face a tough task against Garry Monk’s men on Saturday, with the Whites currently occupying a place in the top six despite beginning the campaign in a similarly underwhelming fashion.
Their only defeats from the last eight games across all competitions came against promotion-certainties Newcastle United and Premier League title contenders Liverpool.
Football FanCast selects the Aston Villa XI Bruce should pick to continue the club’s rise up the standings with an emphatic win at Elland Road on Saturday evening.
GK: Pierluigi Gollini
The Italian stopper has established himself as the club’s number one goalkeeper under both Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Bruce this season, and he is certain to be between the sticks again for the trip to Leeds on Saturday evening.
The highly-rated 21-year-old has been part of a solid defence that has conceded just 18 goals in 18 Championship matches this season and he will look to maintain that impressive record at Elland Road.
RB: Alan Hutton
Villa supporters might have expected that Hutton would be one of the players to depart the club over the summer following the disappointing relegation from the Premier League, but instead he has established himself as the club’s first choice right-back this term.
The Scottish defender has the experience and quality to shine in a defensive role, while he also has the stamina to get up the pitch to cause a threat in attack too. He could be pivotal on the counter attack at Elland Road.
CB: James Chester
Tommy Elphick was named as the Aston Villa captain when he joined the club from Bournemouth during the summer. But when he has been absent through injury Chester has skippered the side, and he has impressed with his committed performances.
The latest of those was against Cardiff City last week when he played wearing a mask because of a broken nose. The Welshman should continue his solid partnership with Baker at the heart of Villa’s defence on Saturday.
CB: Nathan Baker
The centre-back has been one of Villa’s standout performers this season and he will only get better under the leadership of one of the Premier League’s best ever defenders – Steve Bruce.
The 25-year-old went off with a groin injury in the 3-1 success against Cardiff City last weekend and Bruce will certainly be hoping that the impressive defender is fit to face Leeds on Saturday, where he will come up against an in-form striker in Chris Wood.
LB: Jordan Amavi
Following his move from Nice in the summer of 2015, the Frenchman was one of Villa’s best performers at the start of last season, but his campaign came to an end in November when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury when on international duty with the France Under-21s.
However, the attacking left-back has returned to full fitness and quickly shown that he can make a big impact for the club this term as they look to achieve an instant promotion back to the Premier League.
CM: Mile Jedinak
Away from home, Bruce has seemed to prefer playing with three central midfielders during his reign so far and the Australian is one of his favoured choices in that position.
The 32-year-old brings a wealth of experience and aggression to the Villa midfield and those attributes can be vital in a league that is known to be so competitive no matter who you are playing each week. He’ll likely be up against the talented Kemar Roofe on Saturday.
CM: Ashley Westwood
In what was a disastrous relegation from the Premier League last season, Westwood was one of the few Villa players to come out of the disappointing campaign with any credit at all and he has continued to put in those committed performances for the club this term.
Himself, Jedinak and Gary Gardner have formed quite a formidable midfield partnership away from home and they will look to provide a solid base against high-flying Leeds at Elland Road.
CM: Gary Gardner
Steve Bruce opted to play with three central midfielders in the match away against high-flying Brighton last month in a more defensive line-up, and if he does the same at Elland Road then there should be a start for Gardner in the middle of the park.
The 24-year-old’s standout moment of the campaign was when he scored in the derby day draw with Birmingham City and he will be looking to create a similar moment against Leeds.
RW: Albert Adomah
The Ghana international is known to be one of the most dangerous wingers in the Championship and he has picked up three assists in 10 league appearances this season.
Away in a match at Leeds where Villa may have to counter attack more often than not, Adomah’s pace could be vital and he will look to maintain his fruitful link-up with the club’s top goalscorer, Jonathan Kodjia, to continue his side’s rise up the league table.
LW: Jack Grealish
The controversial forward has certainly matured with his performances this season and he has quickly become one of the key men in this Aston Villa side as they look to make an instant return to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old has scored two goals and provided one assist in 13 Championship appearances this term and Steve Bruce certainly seems to believe in the young attacking midfielder’s talent.
ST: Jonathan Kodjia
Despite having the likes of Ross McCormack and Rudy Gestede at their disposal, Villa’s top goalscorer in the Championship this season is their summer signing from Bristol City. The striker has scored seven league goals and has impressed with his all-round play.
The Ivory Coast international appears to be able to score any type of goal and has become a real talisman for the Midlands outfit this term, linking up brilliantly with the likes of Albert Adomah and Jordan Ayew.