Aston Villa predicted XI vs. Tottenham Hotspur: key change made amid three major doubts for visitors

Aston Villa will head into an intriguing clash with Tottenham Hotspur knowing a win will lift them into the Champions League spots.

Just one point and one place separates the two sides ahead of their meeting in north London after they have both enjoyed memorable seasons so far. Spurs, despite defeats against Chelsea and Wolves in their last two outings, remain sat in the top four and are just two points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Villa have been unstoppable on their home patch this season after winning all six of their Premier League home games so far this season. Yet there is one record that Unai Emery’s men will hope to put right this weekend after suffering a number of issues away from Villa Park in the opening months of the campaign.

The tone was set in the opening day hammering at Newcastle United as Villa crashed to a 5-1 defeat at St. James' Park. Since that harrowing day on Tyneside, Emery’s side have won just two of their six away games in the league - but they will hope to improve that record, starting with a win against a depleted Spurs side.

Speaking after his side’s latest away loss at Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Villa boss Emery said: "We won 11 matches in a row at home and that is fantastic. Away it is a challenge. Today I learned again. We are calm and relaxed, we have to be stronger defensively away and try to work hard if we want to get to be one of the top seven teams in the Premier League.”

Aston Villa Team News

There are two definite absentees for Emery to contend with as long-term injury victims Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia still have months on the sidelines ahead of them. Jacob Ramsey is a lot closer to a comeback after he suffered an ankle injury and there are some positive noises he could be named in the squad for the trip to North London.

Emery could hand late fitness tests to Poland international Matty Cash, midfielder John McGinn and centre-back Diego Carlos, with the latter missing the win against Fulham with what was described as a minor injury.

Aston Villa Predicted XI

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Bailey; Diaby, Watkins.