Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is prepared to hand Donyell Malen his debut for the club as West Ham United visit in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The 26-year-old has made the high-profile switch from Germany to England's Second City, leaving Borussia Dortmund after over three years at the Bundesliga giants.
With speculation on the future of Jhon Duran still circling ferociously, Malen is likely to join Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey in the forward four at Villa Park this weekend.
Owing to Diego Carlos's move to Fenerbahce and Pau Torres's absence due to injury, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa will continue to operate in front of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The Villans secured their second signing of the winter window earlier in the week as Andres Garcia moved from Levante, although Matty Cash is set to retain his spot at right-back for now.
Boubacar Kamara lost partner Amadou Onana to a hamstring injury in the draw with Arsenal last week, meaning that Youri Tielemans will be dragged into the base of midfield for this clash.
Adding to Emery's selection issues in the middle of the park, John McGinn and Ross Barkley remain out of action because of hamstring and calf issues respectively.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans, Malen, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins
>Click here to see how West Ham could line up for this fixture
Carter White
