Aston Villa confirmed team news vs Crystal Palace as Ollie Watkins starts after injury

Steven Gerrard has named his Aston Villa line-up for this afternoon's clash with fellow top-10 chasers Crystal Palace. The head coach has gone unchanged with Ollie Watkins shaking off an ankle knock to lead the line.

The striker returned to training for the first time on Saturday since the midweek defeat to Liverpool. It means the England ace will have Danny Ings and Philippe Coutinho in support, with the latter featuring for the first time as a permanent Aston Villa player following his £17.2million transfer from Barcelona this week.

It appears to be a 4-4-2 diamond from Villa with Emi Martinez in goal, Matty Cash and Lucas Digne the full-backs with Ezri Konsa and skipper Tyrone Mings making up the back four. In midfield, Marvelous Nakamba will sit at the base, with John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Coutinho at the tip behind Watkins and Ings.

On the bench for Villa, Jacob Ramsey returns to the squad after his recent injury setback. Emi Buendia and Bertrand Traore are also on the bench.

Here's the two teams in full, with ex-Villa striker Christian Benteke amongst the subs for Patrick Vieira's Eagles.

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Nakamba; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Coutinho; Watkins, Ings.

Olsen, Sanson, Buendia, Traore, Chambers, Young, Chukwuemeka, Ramsey, Iroegbunam.

Butland; Clyne, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell; Kouyate, Milivojevic; Eze, Gallagher, Zaha; Mateta.

Guaita, Ward, Kelly, Schlupp, Hughes, Rak-Sakyi, Ayew, Edouard, Benteke.

Chris Kavanagh.