Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Team news and line-ups before FA Cup quarter-final today – UK Times

For Villa, Emery has made three changes to the side that beat Club Brugge in the Champions League.

In defence, Lucas Digne comes in for Ian Maatsen, while upfront, Marcus Rashford leads the line in place of Ollie Watkins, who picked up an injury on England duty. The striker is replaced by Jacob Ramsey, who moves to left wing.

John McGinn is the other player benched, as he comes out for Marco Asensio, with Morgan Rogers presumably moving into the central attacking midfield role.

Preston boss Heckingbottom has made five changes to the side that beat Portsmouth 2-1 last time out.

In goal, Freddie Woodman drops out for David Cornell, while it looks like a back-three in defence with Jordan Storey and Andrew Hughes replacing Liam Lindsay and Ryan Porteous.

It looks like Robbie Brady comes in for Kaine Kesler-Hayden at wing-back, while in midfield, Ryan Ledson is replaced by Ben Whiteman.

It all stays the same in the attacking positions, with Will Keane and Emil Riis Jakobsen leading the line.

Preston XI: Cornell; Storey, Gibson, Hughes, Brady, Whiteman, Thordarson, Meghoma, Frokjaer, Keane, Riis.

Subs: Stowell; Lindsay, Bauer, Pasiek, Tarry, Carroll, T. Mawene, Evans, Osmajic.

Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Tielemans, Kamara; Asensio, Rogers, Ramsey; Rashford.

Subs: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Torres, Onana, Malen, Watkins, McGinn.

We’re expecting the line-ups to be released in the next five minutes…

The report from Villa’s last match…

Six years ago, Aston Villa’s April included a trip to Rotherham. Now they will visit Paris next month. Their horizons have broadened, their life got more glamorous. A Championship club in 2019 are Champions Leaguequarter-finalists in 2025. “It’s mad,” said the captain John McGinn, a veteran of the journey to Rotherham. “A lot of years of hard work.”

They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight after a brace from a loaned PSG player, Marco Asensio, with the added benefit that he will be eligible to play his parent club at the Parc des Princes. It is another indication of how far and how fast Villa have come that a triple Champions League winner was on the scoresheet for them again. So, too, was Ian Maatsen, a Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund last season. Club Brugge, who scarcely boast the resources to attract such players, were eliminated.

When is Preston vs Aston Villa?

The FA Cup quarter-final will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday, 30 March at Deepdale Stadium in Preston.

The match will be shown free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage starting at 1.15pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via BBC iPlayer.

Preston XI: Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson, Meghoma; Ledson, Þórðarson, Frokjaer-Jensen; Keane, Jakobsen.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Asensio; Rashford.

For Villa, Ollie Watkins is the only new injury doubt after the international break, as the England striker was forced off due to a knee issue against Albania.

Ross Barkley is the other player who will likely be out, so Emery has almost a full squad to pick from – though the question remains how strong a line-up he will choose.

Marcus Rashford could make a start at striker in Watkins’ absence, while Marco Asensio will be looking to build upon his good recent performances.

Preston boss Heckingbottom has a number of potential absentees ahead of the match, with right-back Brad Potts a doubt alongside midfielder Ali McCann and centre-back Jack Whatmough.

Defender Jordan Storey had a recent injury lay-off but returned and should be fine to face Villa.