Unai hoping a change of scene will lift mood

MANAGER Unai Emery has pledged to give the Carabao Cup his full respect when Villa take on Brentford in their third-round clash this evening.

- By BRIAN DICK

Misfiring Villa have so far failed to find the back of the net in their four Premier League games and Emery will be hoping this stat changes at the Gtech Community Stadium.

He looks set to shuffle his squad with starts expected for Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof, while also giving game-time to players who missed out against Everton.

Elliott came off the bench at the Hill Dickinson Stadium but could be set for a first start since his loan move from Liverpool, coming in on the right in place of John McGinn.

Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, is expected to replace Emi Buendia, while Donyell Malen could come in for Ollie Watkins up top.

Perhaps Emery's biggest headache will come in central midfield where Lindelof was forced to deputise at Everton, with Youri Tielemans joining Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana on the treatment table.