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The training sessions are complete, the kits are prepared, and the managers have delivered their messages. The countdown has begun.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are set for their Europa League semi-final second leg at Villa Park on Thursday night (20:00 BST).
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Both teams aim to reach a significant European final for the first time in over four decades, promising an unforgettable evening in the Midlands, no matter the outcome.
In preparation, both managers opted to rest key players in the Premier League last weekend, with Unai Emery making seven changes against Tottenham, while Vitor Pereira made eight changes against Chelsea.
As both teams gear up for the match, each manager is expected to field their strongest line-ups despite dealing with some injury concerns.
During Emery’s press conference, he confirmed that Amadou Onana will miss the game due to a calf injury sustained in the first leg last week. Conversely, John McGinn is back in contention after completing training despite experiencing some hamstring tightness.
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Pereira, in his press conference, indicated that a final decision on Morgan Gibbs-White will be made late, as he recently suffered a head injury that required stitches. However, Zach Abbott has been cleared to play following a separate head injury incident, and Murillo might also return from his hamstring injury.
Now that you have the latest team updates, who do you believe should be top of your team sheet for this potentially monumental match?
Share your selections and reasoning here