Aston Villa predicted XI vs Newcastle: Emery to stick with attacking quartet after Champions League win

Aston Villa's attention turns back to the Premier League this weekend as they travel to St James' Park to face Newcastle United, and following the impressive Champions League performance against Fenerbahce in midweek, I don't think Unai Emery needs to make too many changes to his starting eleven.

There has been plenty of discussion about Villa's attacking options throughout the opening months of the season, particularly with so many new players having arrived during the summer, but we are beginning to see some encouraging relationships develop in the final third. The performance against Fenerbahce was another example of that, and although Newcastle will present a different challenge, I would be reluctant to disrupt an attacking unit that is starting to show what it can do.

In goal, Zion Suzuki will continue, and I would expect the back four to remain unchanged from Wednesday night. Matty Cash and Victor Lindelof have become important figures in a defence that has undergone considerable change since last season, while Pau Torres offers that ability to progress the ball from the back that remains so important to how Emery wants Villa to play.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka should continue at left-back, with both Ian Maatsen and Matteo Ruggeri unavailable. It is far from an ideal situation, particularly when you consider how much Villa ordinarily get from their left-back in possession, but Wan-Bissaka is an experienced defender and I think having Ibrahim Mbaye operating ahead of him could be useful against Newcastle. I was particularly impressed with Mbaye's work rate and the defensive side of his game against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, which perhaps hasn't received as much attention as his attacking qualities. His willingness to track back, support his full-back and do the less glamorous work was really encouraging, particularly for a young player still finding his feet at Villa.

In midfield, I would bring João Gomes back into the starting eleven alongside Boubacar Kamara. Gomes was my player of the match against Brentford and I thought there were encouraging signs from Kamara in that game as well, although there is no doubt his workload will continue to be carefully managed following his injury problems. Leon Goretzka finally made his Villa debut against Fenerbahce, which is another positive development, but I would expect Emery to continue building his minutes from the bench rather than throwing him straight into a Premier League start.

Further forward, I would keep the same four players who started against Fenerbahce, with John McGinn operating from the right, Johan Manzambi centrally, Ibrahim Mbaye on the left and Nicolas Jackson leading the line. We are starting to see some encouraging relationships develop between these players, particularly when you consider how much change there has been in Villa's attacking department over the summer. The movement is becoming more natural, there is a good mixture of qualities across the four positions and I think Wednesday's performance offered another indication of what this group could be capable of.

Manzambi continues to impress me with just how much he offers in possession, whether that is receiving the ball in tight areas, carrying it forward or finding space between the lines, and his relationship with Jackson is one that could become increasingly important as the season progresses. McGinn gives Villa experience and tactical discipline from the right, while Mbaye offers something different on the opposite side. The defensive side of Mbaye's performance on Wednesday was particularly encouraging, because for all the excitement around what he can offer going forward, his willingness to work back, track runners and support Wan-Bissaka was just as important. That is going to be a big part of his role against Newcastle, particularly with Villa having to use a right-footed player at left-back.

Jackson's two goals against Fenerbahce were another reminder of what Villa have brought into the club. There has been plenty of change in the attacking department, but he is beginning to establish himself as the focal point of this team, and I think the movement and athleticism of the players around him are helping Villa become a much more dangerous attacking side.

Newcastle will be a difficult proposition at St James' Park, and Villa cannot simply assume that the attacking freedom they enjoyed on Wednesday will be replicated against Premier League opposition. However, I think Emery has an opportunity to build some consistency in his selection, and with the options now available to him from the bench, Villa should be in a good position to make changes as the game develops if required.

Predicted Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Wan-Bissaka; Kamara, Gomes; McGinn, Manzambi, Mbaye; Jackson.