Aston Villa team news
Aston Villa will be without Phillippe Coutinho, who is a long-term absentee due to a hamstring injury, while Matty Cash is also sidelined with a calf injury he sustained while on international duty with Poland.
There is some optimism regarding the potential availability of Boubacar Kamara, who is nursing an ankle complaint, though it remains unclear if he will play a part in the game. Goalkeeper Jed Steer remains unavailable, though it is unlikely he would trouble first-choice Emiliano Martinez for a starting position.
Aston Villa XI (possible): Martinez; Moreno, Mings, Konsa, Young; Buendia, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Waktins, Bailey.
| Position | Aston Villa players |
|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Martinez, Olsen, Sinisalo |
| Defenders: | Carlos, Konsa, Mings, Moreno, Chambers, Young, Digne |
| Midfielders: | Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Dendoncker, Ramsey |
| Forwards: | Traore, Watkins, Duran, Bailey |
Nottingham Forest team news
Chris Wood and Willy Boly are expected to be unavailable for Forest boss Steve Cooper, as are Dean Henderson and Scott McKenna. There are concerns over the fitness of Ryan Yates, Giulian Biancone and Omar Richards too. However, the good news is that full-back Serge Aurier could come back into contention.
Nottingham Forest XI (possible): Navas; Toffolo, Niakhate, Felipe, Williams; Danilo, Freuler, Mangala; Gibbs-White, Dennis, Johnson.
| Position | Nottingham Forest players |
|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Navas, Hennessey |
| Defenders: | Cook, Worrall, Williams, Toffolo, Niakhate, Aurier, Richards, Lodi, Felipe |
| Midfielders: | Mangala, Shelvey, Colback, Gibbs-White, Lingard, Cafu, Kouyate, Danilo, Scarpa |
| Forwards: | Awoniyi, Surridge, Mighten, Johnson, Dennis, Taylor, Ayew |
Head-to-head record
| Date | Result | Competition |
|---|
| Oct 10, 2022 | Nottingham Forest 1-1 Aston Villa | Premier League |
| Mar 13, 2019 | Nottingham Forest 1-3 Aston Villa | Championship |
| Nov 28, 2018 | Aston Villa 5-5 Nottingham Forest | Championship |
| Jan 13, 2018 | Nottingham Forest 0-1 Aston Villa | Championship |
| Sep 23, 2017 | Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest | Championship |
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were familiar foes during their shared time in the Championship and have only reacquainted this season after a few years' hiatus. Villa boast the upper hand, though, when it comes to head-to-head records, having not lost in their last five meetings.
