Brentford predicted lineup vs Aston Villa - Premier League

Brentford welcome Aston Villa to their corner of west London in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas Frank's spirited underdogs managed to limit Manchester City to just the one goal in midweek - though offered precious little going the other way themselves. Defeat to the league leaders extended Brentford's worrying run of form to just a pair of wins in their last 11 Premier League games (D2 L7).

Here's the XI from an injury-depleted squad Frank may call upon to begin improving that record.

Brentford predicted lineup vs Aston Villa - Premier League

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Alvaro Fernandez (GK) - Almost halfway into the season, Fernandez has now played as many Premier League games as the injury-stricken first-choice David Raya - but conceded seven more goals.

Ethan Pinnock (CB) - The Premier League's only centre-back with more than 100 throw-ins this term has seen the threat of his launched deliveries decline as the novelty wears off.

Pontus Jansson (CB) - Brentford's chest-beating captain has missed nine minutes of the Premier League campaign so far - what Frank would give for his other defenders to be as reliably fit.

Mads Bech Sorensen (CB) - One of the graduates from Brentford's controversial B team - which replaced the club's academy in 2016 - hasn't missed a minute since the resumption of their season in late December.

2. Midfielders

Sergi Canos (RWB) - Granted a rare rest for the first hour of Brentford's midweek defeat, Canos hasn't been left out of consecutive league starting XI's since April.

Shandon Baptiste (CM) - The Granada international had made five starts for the Bees in his first 18 months at the club going into the current campaign, but has been included from the off in Brentford's last five straight opening lineups.

Christian Norgaard (CM) - Brentford's midfield pivot missed just his second match from the club's last 30 regular season league outings with suspension against City, only injury or further punishment will force Norgaard to add to that tally.

Frank Onyeka (CM) - Frank may make the most of his Nigeria international before Onyeka joins the Super Eagles for the upcoming AFCON.

Dominic Thompson (LWB) - With Rico Henry's absence extended, the Premier League rookie may be granted another starting berth following a man of the match display against the reigning champions.

3. Forwards

Yoane Wissa (ST) - The momentum of points-winning goals in the dying embers of consecutive Premier League matches as September bled into October was dented by a five-game injury absence. Wissa (and Brentford collectively, for the most part) has failed to regain that form since.

Ivan Toney (ST) - In a jovial review of City's 1-0 win over Brentford, a game in which the league leaders enjoyed 76% possession, Toney admitted: "Not the best kick about, year 11s stole our ball."

You can read 90min's preview of Brentford vs Aston Villa here.

You can read Aston Villa's predicted lineup here.