Fixture Details
Game: Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Date: Wednesday 17th June
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Villa Park
Kick-off: 6pm
At a Glance
After an absence of over three months, the Premier League returns at Villa Park on Wednesday evening.
Aston Villa played in the final game before the league was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, against Leicester City, and they feature in the first game back when they take on Sheffield United.
Dean Smith’s team have ten games left to preserve their top flight status and move out of the relegation zone, where they currently occupy 19th place.
The Blades were promoted alongside Villa last season and have enjoyed a successful campaign - Chris Wilder’s team are in the hunt to qualify for European football and sit in seventh position heading into their final ten games.
Head-to-Head
Aston Villa and Sheffield United have met on 135 occasions, dating back to their first game in 1893.
Villa have won 63 times, drawn 32 and lost 40 games against the Blades.
Standout Stats
Following their 2-0 win at Bramall Lane in the reverse fixture in December, Sheffield United are looking to secure their first league double over Aston Villa since the 1965-66 campaign.
This will be Aston Villa’s first ever competitive match played in the month of June. Sheffield United have played twice before in June, winning both matches 2-1 in the 1946-47 top-flight campaign (v Arsenal and Stoke City).
Jack Grealish has created seven chances directly following a take-on in the Premier League this season – only Adama Traore (13) has more. In fact, of players to have attempted at least 50 take-ons this season, Grealish has the highest % ending with a chance created (7% - 7/104).
Team News
John McGinn returned to full training prior to the suspension of the season back in March, following the ankle injury that he suffered against Southampton back in December.
In his pre-match press conference on Monday morning, Smith confirmed that Tom Heaton and Wesley are still set to miss the rest of the season with their respective knee injuries that they picked up against Burnley at Turf Moor on New Year's Day.
The Boss
"It is an honour [to be the first game], the eyes of the world will be on us and we are looking forward to it.
“The players feel comfortable and safe, and thankfully nobody at this football club has tested positive.
“We’re all set to go now, and they just want to play football.
“They are really looking forward to it, they just want to play football.”
