Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Wednesday night as Unai Emery’s side take on Brighton at the Amex. Only two points separate the sides, who are both capable of competing for a Champions League finish this term. Seventh-placed Brighton have won four of their last five Premier League games, giving an impressive response to their 7-0 loss at Nottingham Forest in early February. Fabian Hurzeler’s side drew 2-2 at Manchester City before the March international break and missed a couple of big chances to possibly win the game late on. However, the Seagulls will need to pick themselves up from a crushing penalty shoot-out defeat to Forest in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday night. Villa, meanwhile, beat Preston North End 3-0 at Deepdale on Sunday to secure their place at Wembley. Unai Emery will provide a team news update ahead of the game in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Ross Barkley was the only injured player in his squad, while Axel Disasi was cup-tied and Leon Bailey was left out after returning to Bodymoor Heath on Friday following his international duties with Jamaica. Emi Martinez missed the trip to Brighton last season but is expected to start on Wednesday. He could play behind an unchanged backline, considering Villa have kept three clean sheets in a row with Tyrone Mings playing alongside Ezri Konsa. In midfield, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans are expected to continue in the double pivot. Ollie Watkins should return up front after being left in reserve against Preston, with Marcus Rashford having started in the number nine role. Instead, the Manchester United loanee could operate from the left, Marco Asensio centrally, and Morgan Rogers off the right. Emery will have a wealth of attacking options on the bench, including Donyell Malen, Bailey, John McGinn, and Jacob Ramsey. The games are coming thick and fast for Villa, as Nottingham Forest await them on Saturday, followed by two Champions League quarter-final legs against Paris Saint-Germain and a trip to bottom club Southampton. Predicted Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, Rashford, Watkins. What is your predicted XI? Tell us here