- Unai Emery praises Rashford’s attitude ahead of potential Villa debut
- Donyell Malen starts up front in place of injured Ollie Watkins
- Rashford and Marco Asensio named on the bench for FA Cup clash
Rashford Benched for FA Cup Clash with Spurs
Aston Villa’s newest signing, Marcus Rashford, has been named on the bench for their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Tottenham Hotspur, with Donyell Malen chosen to lead the line in place of the injured Ollie Watkins.
Rashford joined Villa late in the January transfer window after falling out of favor at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, who publicly questioned his attitude and effort.
However, Unai Emery has been full of praise for the 27-year-old’s commitment in training, calling his application “fantastic”.
Speaking before the game, Emery emphasized his belief in Rashford, stating:
“I’m very happy with him. The conversation I had with him was a very normal one between a coach and a player, speaking about football. I don’t want to know the reasons he left Manchester, but I am very happy he’s here.”
“I want to help him recover his best performances. His challenge with us is exciting, and I believe he can bring something special to this team.”
Despite this, Rashford will have to wait for his debut, as Emery opts for Malen up front, while fellow January signing Marco Asensio also starts on the bench.
Aston Villa Team News
Villa have several key absentees, with Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Pau Torres, and Matty Cash all ruled out through injury.
Additionally, Axel Disasi, who joined on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to play after appearing for Enzo Maresca’s side earlier in the competition.
Aston Villa Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
🧤 Martinez
🛡️ Garcia, Konsa, Kamara, Digne
⚙️ Tielemans, Onana
⚡ Malen, Rogers, Rashford
🎯 Asensio
Tottenham Team News
Ange Postecoglou is dealing with an extensive injury list, with key players like Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison all unavailable.
However, new loan signing Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich) gets his first start, with Lucas Bergvall recalled in midfield.
Teenage sensation Mikey Moore also starts alongside captain Son Heung-min and Tel in the attack.
Tottenham Predicted Lineup (4-3-3):
🧤 Kinsky
🛡️ Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence
⚙️ Gray, Bergvall, Kulusevski
⚡ Moore, Tel, Son
What’s at Stake?
After being thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final, Spurs cannot afford another domestic cup exit in just four days.
Villa, on the other hand, will be looking to make a statement and progress to the FA Cup fifth round, with Rashford potentially making his debut off the bench.
With both teams suffering from injuries, this FA Cup clash promises to be a high-stakes battle.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-2 Tottenham
