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Aston Villa v Leeds United Team News

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Leeds United head coach Paul Heckingbottom is expected to give Hugo Diaz his first start for the club in the clash at Aston Villa on Friday night.

 Diaz came on to make his debut in the defeat at Preston North End in midweek, where he replaced Pontus Jansson, who was forced off after suffering a head injury. Jansson must now miss the game due to the protocol for a player suffering a concussion during a game. With Leeds decimated in defence, Diaz will partner Paudie O’Connor, who was only making his second appearance for the side in the clash at Preston.

Samu Saiz and Ezgjan Alioski are expected to be recalled to the starting line-up after they were dropped to the bench at Preston.

Gaetano Berardi will serve the second game of his five-match suspension whilst Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Matthew Pennington, Conor Shaughnessy, Laurens De Bock, Adam Forshaw, Tyler Roberts and Eunan O’Kane all remain sidelined through injury.

 Aston Villa look set to be without Axel Tuanzebe who suffered an ankle injury in the midweek win against Cardiff City.

Former Chelsea defender John Terry is hoping to be fit in time for the game. Terry missed the Cardiff clash after picking up an ankle injury at Norwich City last weekend.

Birkir Bjarnason is also a doubt after he picked up a back injury in the warm-up on Tuesday night.

Defender Alan Hutton is expected to miss the clash. The Scottish international has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.

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