Sheffield United v Aston Villa: El Ghazi can flourish in Grealish's absence

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sheffield United v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 6pm Wednesday

Best bet

Anwar El Ghazi to score at any time
1pt 5-2 bet365 & BoyleSports

Team news

Sheffield United
The Blades are without defenders Jayden Bogle, John Egan, Jack Robinson, Chris Basham and Jack O'Connell. Sander Berge and Jack Rodwell are also out.

Aston Villa
Captain Jack Grealish has been ruled out, along with full-back Matty Cash and Kortney Hause. Wesley is a long-term absentee.

Match preview

Aston Villa are having to find alternative ways to get the job done in the absence of injured talisman Jack Grealish and Anwar El Ghazi may be the answer against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Grealish has missed Villa’s last two Premier League tussles with Leicester and Leeds, and a trip to the Premier League’s whipping boys also comes too soon for Dean Smith’s assist-king.

Villa were beaten 2-1 at home by the highflying Foxes but they got their European aspirations back on track with Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leeds, which leaves them six points off fourth-placed West Ham with two games in hand.

El Ghazi’s fifth-minute strike was all that separated the sides at Elland Road and the former Ajax ace may play another starring role on Villa’s quick return to Yorkshire.

The 25-year-old has struggled to force his way into Villa’s starting 11 in recent months, but Grealish’s pain is very much El Ghazi's gain.

He was arguably Villa’s most important asset during a difficult December as he grabbed five league goals from five appearances.

The tricky Dutchman has scored seven times from just 18 appearances in all competitions, averaging a goal every 140 minutes - 49 minutes fewer than leading marksman Ollie Watkins is clocking.

El Ghazi, who also has scored Villa's last two penalties, is averaging 2.1 shots per game and he should get plenty of chances to bolster that tally against a Sheffield United side who are plagued by defensive injuries and have lost ten of their 13 home fixtures.

Key stat

Six of Anwar El Ghazi's seven goals this season have come away from home.

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