Norwich vs Aston Villa preview

Team news, key stats and predictions ahead of Norwich vs Aston Villa in the Premier League.

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Team news

Norwich full-back Jamal Lewis will be available for the clash with Aston Villa, with his elbow problem not as bad as initially feared. Veteran Northern Ireland goalkeeper Michael McGovern will start, with Ralf Fahrmann (groin) joining Tim Krul (back) on the sidelines, while Archie Mair will be promoted from the U23s as cover.

Defender Ben Godfrey, set for a hernia operation during the international break, will be available, full-back Sam Byram (ankle) and midfielder Todd Cantwell (hamstring) are slight doubts and centre-half Grant Hanley (groin) misses out. Midfielders Alex Tettey (groin), Mario Vrancic (calf), Tom Trybull (ankle), winger Onel Hernandez (knee) and defenders Christoph Zimmermann (foot) and Timm Klose (knee) all continue their rehabilitation.

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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has no fresh injury problems. Defenders Tyrone Mings (shin) and Matt Targett (hamstring), who picked up problems in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Burnley, have trained this week and are available for selection, while midfielder Henri Lansbury is back in contention after recovering from an ankle injury.

The game will come too soon for striker Jonathan Kodjia (fractured cheekbone) and James Chester (hamstring) is still out.

How to follow and watch

Follow the action with our dedicated live blog. Highlights of the game will be published at 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app plus the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.

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Opta stats

• Aston Villa have lost their last three league matches against Norwich City, all in the Championship between April 2018 and May 2019.
• Norwich City versus Aston Villa will be the first Premier League meeting between two promoted sides who also contested in the inaugural season of the competition since the 2011-12 campaign - with Norwich beating QPR on both occasions that season.
• Norwich have only lost one of their 13 home league games in 2019, with that loss coming against Chelsea (W9 D3 L1). The Canaries have scored at least twice in 17 of their last 18 league games at Carrow Road.
• Aston Villa have lost their last 10 away games in the Premier League - it's their joint-longest run of away defeats in top-flight history, also losing 10 in a row between December 1924-April 1925.
• Norwich have lost 19 of their last 20 Premier League games in which they've conceded the first goal (including all five this season), with the exception a 4-2 win over Watford in May 2016.
• Conor Hourihane has been involved in five goals in his last four league matches against Norwich City for Aston Villa (3 goals, 2 assists).
• Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has lost five games against Norwich City in all competitions during his managerial career - against no side has he lost more (also five against Leyton Orient).

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Charlie's prediction

Villa's defence is struggling to cope with the better players in the Premier League. They may not score goals, but I believe there are goals in the team. You can flip John McGinn and Jack Grealish away from home and Wesley is a threat. Norwich are a good watch as we know. Defensively they will leak goals, but how far can Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki take them, alongside Emiliano Buendia and Marco Stiepermann? They give you everything they have, but the first three are the key to going forward - Villa could take advantage of that.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (10/1 with Sky Bet)

Fantasy Football tip

John McGinn (£7.4m) has 31 points from three matches since the Fantasy Football overhaul and is only second on points from midfield to Kevin de Bruyne, with Scot racking up 54 thus far. He has two goals in as many games for Villa, with two man-of-the-match awards in that time too. Who will you pick? Play Fantasy Football here.

Super 6: John McGinn has scored in his last two games for Aston Villa. His side features in this Saturday's Super 6 round, with 51 per cent of players backing Villa to come away from Carrow Road with at least a point. Play for free for a chance to win £250,000.

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