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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
ALEX YOUNG

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Premier League restart preview: Date, kick-off time, team news, TV channel, prediction

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United will be the first game back for the Premier League season.

Come kick-off at Villa Park, 100 days will have passed since the last game as the league embarks on completing the season behind closed doors.

But it will be Premier League football not as we know it, with all 92 remaining games to be played behind closed doors.

There will also be five substitutes allowed, with bench capacity increased from seven to nine players.

(Getty Images)

Date, time and venue

Aston Villa vs Sheffield United is scheduled for 6pm BST kick-off on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

Sky Sports will be broadcasting the game, with coverage starting from 4.30pm BST. Manchester City vs Arsenal will follow on the same channels.

Team news

Aston Villa had lost striker Wesley for the remainder of the season with a knee injury and that hasn't changed despite the hiatus. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton, also knee, will also be sitting from the sidelines.

Sheffield United have a clean bill of health.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-3 Sheffield United

The Bundesliga results have suggested that home advantage is not playing quite the key role, something Aston Villa will be desperate to disprove. They sit two points from safety and host three of their next four games.

Sheffield United are a step above and another win upon the return to action will see them sit clear in fifth.

Team news

Villa midfielder John McGinn fractured his ankle in December but is in contention, although boss Dean Smith is wary of rushing him back given the hectic schedule in the next few weeks.

Striker Wesley and goalkeeper Tom Heaton will not be available for the final nine games as they continue to recover from long-term knee injuries but Jed Steer is fit after an Achilles injury.

Sheffield United have everyone available for the trip to Villa Park. The Blades have had a full squad training over the last few weeks, with the three-month break allowing any niggles to pass.

Wilder is hoping to confirm the loan extension of Dean Henderson in the coming days, though the goalkeeper will be eligible to play at Villa Park anyway.

Provisional Villa squad: Reina, Nyland, Steer, Guilbert, Engels, Chester, Konsa, Mings, Taylor, Elmohamady, Luiz, Nakamba, Targett, Grealish, McGinn, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Hourihane, Jota, Lansbury, Samatta, Vassilev.

Provisional Sheff Utd squad: Henderson, Moore, Baldock, Egan, Basham, Jagielka, O'Connell, Stevens, Berge, Besic, Fleck, Freeman, Lundstram, Morrison, Norwood, Clarke, McBurnie, McGoldrick, Sharp, Mousset.

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