Watkins and Mings to return against Tractor Boys

Aston Villa will have Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings available when they host Ipswich on Saturday.

Both missed last Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round victory over Tottenham at Villa Park and hand Unai Emery a big boost, but the Villans are stil without five other key players.

Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley have all been absent in recent games, with Ezri Konsa joining them on the absentee list after going off injured in the 2-1 over Spurs.

Emery said: “Still out for tomorrow are Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley.

“Those who have trained this morning with the group and are in the squad are Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins.”

January signings and squad balance

Konsa’s injury could see January loan signing Axel Disasi start at the heart of defence for Villa having missed last weekend’s win due to being cup tied.

Villa also signed Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia in January and Emery says he is pleased with the balance he now has in his squad.

He added: “Yes but my opinion on how we are doing, the process, is still always being in balance. The balance is because we have to see it, in the process we are going to create and to be here.

“Each match is an opportunity where we can see if we are getting stronger or not, if we are closer to our objective in our demands or not.

“This is the next challenge I have for the next three-and-a-half months in the different competitions, they’re very exciting ones we have, FA Cup, Champions League and the Premier League.”

On tomorrow’s opponents: “They are performing very well. I appreciate a lot how they are playing and competing. The coach already is showing us his process and progress and having a good impact tactically. Tomorrow is going to be very difficult and we have to respect them a lot.” pic.twitter.com/PcpnLVKdzV

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 14, 2025

Ipswich a ‘very good opponent’

Ipswich are 19th in the Premier League, three points from safety, but Emery believes they are in for a tough afternoon on Saturday.

The Basque boss said: “A very good opportunity for the team, for the players and for the supporters. It’s about how we can face a Premier League match with the players we have and with the idea and style we want to try.

“They are performing really well. I appreciate how they are playing and competing. The coach is having a good impact tactically and then on the players they have with Liam Delap playing and performing very well.

“Of course, they are at the bottom in the league but that’s because after their promotion into the Premier League it has been demanding. It’s going to be a difficult match and we respect them a lot.”