Villa team news vs Fulham as Cameron Archer starts and Moussa Diaby poised

Aston Villa’s preparations for the 2023/24 campaign continue this evening (Thursday 12am UK) as Unai Emery’s side face Fulham at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando.

It is the second Premier League Summer Series friendly Villa are playing in the USA after drawing 3-3 with Newcastle United last weekend in Philadelphia. Following tonight’s clash, Villa travel back to Washington DC, where they will base themselves before heading to Landover in Maryland for Sunday’s match with Brentford.

Villa started their pre-season programme with a 1-1 draw with Walsall earlier this month, but Emery was missing a number of first-team regulars at the Bescot. Against Newcastle, Emi Martinez, Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, Robin Olsen and Cameron Archer all recieved their first minutes of pre-season.

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New signings Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans both played in the second half in the six-goal thriller with Eddie Howe’s side, and the club’s latest arrival, Moussa Diaby, will likely come off the bench this evening to play make his pre-season debut against Fulham.

Emery has opted to make five changes to the team which drew with Newcastle, as Robin Olsen, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans and Cameron Archer all come into the starting XI.

Back to front, Olsen starts in goal, Ezri Konsa at right-back, Torres and Carlos at centre-back and Lucas Digne at left-back. Tielemans plays alongside Douglas Luiz in a double pivot, with John McGinn, Jaden Philogene and Emi Buendia. Cameron Archer leads the line.

Aston Villa XI vs Fulham: Olsen; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Philogene, McGinn, Buendia; Archer.

Subs: Emi Martinez, Filip Marschall, Calum Chambers, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Seb Revan, Douglas Luiz, Kadan Young, Aaron Ramsey, Philippe Coutinho, Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins, Omari Kellyman.

What is your score prediction? Tell us in the comments section…

Villa have shown their intent ahead of the new season with the big-money signing of Pau Torres, and the canny free signing of Youri Tielemans.

There’s also the small matter of a European campaign as Villa prepare to battle with other teams from abroad.

The aim is simple, to finish the highest they have done for some time in the Premier League, and to compete for trophies.

There are exciting visions on and off the field at Villa and this season is the perfect time to realise some of the club’s ambitions.

Join us as we look ahead to an exciting season for Aston Villa with a special edition preview paper.

They are all 48 pages and cost £3, on sale for advance order on the online shop NOW and in retail outlets from July 26.

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