Villa - Hamburg Preview

December 17, 2008

Aston Villa’s fringe players will get a chance to impress when they take on Martin Jol’s Hamburg in the Uefa Cup tonight

Martin O’Neill left five of his first-team stars behind in Birmingham when the team flew out to Germany, with seven players under 21 years of age.

With the likes of England regular Gareth Barry, Captain Martin Laursen, and the trio of Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner who were given special mention recently by Fabio Capello all absent, Villa’s team will have a fresh look against the Bundesliga outfit.

The Villa boss revamped his team in their surprise 2-1 defeat to MSK Zilina, meaning Brad Guzan, Nigel Reo-Coker, Zat Knight, Craig Gardner, Nathan Delfouneso and Moustapha Salifou should all be given a run-out.

Delfouneso scored his first goal of the club against the Slovakian club earlier this month and he could well be given the nod up front alongside Marlon Harewood.

Although Villa have already qualified from Group F, O’Neill would likehis team to enter the two-legged knock-out stage with a higher seed by securing a win over Hamburg, but it is obvious that he’s playing this with a straight bat.

Hamburg had a High-flying start to the season but had slumped slightly saw off Eintracht Frankfurt last Saturday courtesy of Mladen Petric’s second half winner.
Paolo Guerrero, who was a substitute in last weekend’s success, could come in up front with either Petric or Ivica Olic.
First-choice midfielders Piotr Trochowski, David Jarolim and Guy Demel could all be omitted should Jol wish to freshen up his side. If played, the men to watch could be Jonathan Pitroipa a summer signing from Freiburg or Thiago Neves, a Brazilian who has a point to prove but much potential.

Villa’s team will most likely be; Guzan, Shorey, Luke Young, Knight, Davies/Cuellar, Gardner, Reo-Coker, Salifou, Petrov/Sidwell, Harewood, Delfouneso.
Other available players are; Friedel, Taylor, Steiber, Clark, Bannan, Lowry, Herd

Hamburger SV - Aston Villa,
HSH Nordbank Arena - 19.45