Brentford vs Aston Villa preview, team news and predicted lineup

Brentford prepare for their first home game under new boss Keith Andrews as the Bees welcome Aston Villa to the Gtech Community Stadium. Neither side were able to get a winning start last week in the Premier League's opening weekend with Brentford losing at Nottingham Forest and Villa securing a stalemate against Newcastle United.

It is still early days as to how Brentford will be doing under Andrews' guidance but early indicators show the Bees could be in trouble in a post-Thomas Frank era. With key players such as Bryan Mbuemo to Man United and Yoane Wissa keen on a move away from the London club , questions will have to be asked as to how the side will survive this season with serious limits in terms of attacking options.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have a few headaches of their own. Fans were disappointed to see Jacob Ramsey move to Newcastle United earlier this week and head coach Unai Emery will be frustrated with Ezri Konsa who will be serving a suspension as the Villans look to return to Champions League football this season.

Thomas Frank’s options are stretched in midfield with Janelt, Nunes and Maghoma all unavailable. Wissa, linked with Newcastle United, remains out of the squad and has stayed away from training as he pushes for a transfer.

At the back, Pinnock sat out the defeat to Nottingham Forest after picking up a knock in training. He will be assessed close to kick-off, with Brentford reluctant to rush a key defender. There is better news with Damsgaard, who should rejoin the group following the birth of his first child last weekend.

Frank could refresh the engine room by calling on Damsgaard and new arrival Jordan Henderson to feature alongside the ever-reliable Mathias Jensen. The return to fitness of left-back Rico Henry offers greater balance on that side and frees Keane Lewis-Potter to operate higher up the pitch.

In attack, Thiago is poised to lead the line. Kevin Schade is an option to inject pace from the start or off the bench, potentially replacing Fabio Carvalho if Frank wants more direct running beyond Villa’s centre-backs.

Unai Emery must do without Konsa, who serves a one-match ban after last weekend’s red card. Fitness doubts linger over Andres Garcia and Ross Barkley, with both considered unlikely to make it in time for Brentford.

Despite a positive debut, Marco Bizot is expected to make way as first-choice Martinez is available again after serving a suspension carried over from the final game of last season. His return brings leadership and distribution that Villa rely on to build from deep.

Konsa’s absence could prompt a reshuffle, with Pau Torres tipped to slot into central defence alongside fellow left-footer Tyrone Mings. Higher up, the PFA Young Player of the Year Morgan Rogers is set to support Ollie Watkins. The former Brentford striker has found form on his old patch, scoring in his last two league away trips to face the Bees and netting 11 times in his previous 18 Premier League appearances in London.

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, Berg, Henry; Yarmoliuk, Jensen; Carvalho, Damsgaard, Lewis-Potter; Thiago

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Mings, Torres, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Watkins, Rogers

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