Aston Villa boss Unai Emery details 'impossible' task ahead of Southampton clash
Unai Emery is preparing to make a late call on Villa’s team for Saturday’s visit of Southampton claiming fixture congestion makes it “impossible” to name an unchanged XI.
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The clash with the Saints is Villa’s third match in a run of four in 10 days and players trained for the first time since Wednesday night’s 3-1 win over Brentford on Friday afternoon.
Even then Emery will delay selecting his starting line-up until just a few hours before the game, explaining: "It is being very difficult because we play matches every three days.
"Today I don’t know exactly which players are available tomorrow [on Saturday].
“Some are doubts, yesterday some had pain and some are tired. We are going to train now this afternoon. I think until tomorrow morning, only then it will be clear who will start the match.”
Amadou Onana could be involved following a foot injury, though the £50million record signing is more likely to feature in Tuesday’s Champions League match at RB Leipzig.
Jacob Ramsey (hamstring) is not expected back until around Christmas.
The win over Brentford snapped an eight-match winless run for Villa but asked about the prospect of naming an unchanged team, Emery replied: “It has been impossible at the moment, because there are players playing a lot of matches, and they are coming with some injuries, some small pains, getting tired, but for me it's not the most important (thing) to try to be consistent with the starting 11 players.
“I want players knowing tactically and performing tactically and individually, with their quality, always getting the level we want. I have to use two players for each position, trying to compete and trying to be ready to play.”
