Unai Emery is set to shake things up as Aston Villa prepare to host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park this Thursday night, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur. With a spot in the UEFA Europa League on the line, the Villans are under pressure to deliver a much-improved performance on home soil.

Emery is expected to deploy his side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with several key changes to the starting lineup. Fans can look forward to seeing Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne all getting the nod from the first whistle, bringing fresh energy to the pitch.

In goal, Emiliano Martinez will look to rebound after conceding twice in his last outing. The backline will feature Konsa partnering Torres at center-back, aiming to lock things down defensively. Matty Cash will take up the right-back role, while Digne hopes to prove his worth on the left flank—both full-backs will need to pick their moments to push forward and support the attack.

Victor Lindelof and Tyrone Mings will be waiting on the bench, ready to provide cover in central defense if needed.

In midfield, Youri Tielemans will anchor the center of the park alongside Lamare Bogarde, tasked with disrupting Nottingham Forest's rhythm and maintaining control. Ahead of them, the creative trio of Emi Buendia, Morgan Rogers, and John McGinn will look to unlock the Forest defense. Their performance will be crucial if Villa hope to overturn any deficit from the first leg of this tie.

Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho are likely to start on the bench, but both could make an impact in the second half if Emery needs a spark. Up front, Ollie Watkins will lead the line as the lone striker, charged with being a constant menace in the final third and finding the back of the net.

It's a must-win atmosphere at Villa Park, and Emery's squad has the depth and talent to rise to the occasion. Keep an eye on those key battles in midfield and the full-backs' runs—they could make all the difference.