By Daniel Feliciano

10th Aug, 2022 | 8:10pm

Conor Coady and Amadou Onana to make debuts, Demarai Gray to be axed - Everton predicted XI v Aston Villa

Everton head to Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime looking for their first points of the season with two new faces as part of the squad.

Amadou Onana and Conor Coady have both completed moves to Goodison Park since the defeat to Chelsea on the opening day of the season, and have strengthened the options that Frank Lampard has at his disposal.

But could they be thrown straight into the deep end away at Aston Villa immediately? Or will Lampard look to go with a more familiar side?

In goal Jordan Pickford took the captain’s armband and had a good performance despite defeat and will retain his position as the starting goalkeeper all season.

Lampard has opted for a three centre-back formation and the signing of Coady leans towards that remaining for the foreseeable future. He should start, alongside fellow new centre-back James Tarkowski and Mason Holgate after Yerry Mina and Ben Godfrey’s injuries.

Vitalii Mykolenko continues to impress on the left and should see off competition from Ruben Vinagre to start, while Nathan Patterson continues to shine and impress in Seamus Coleman’s absence.

In midfield Onana should come into the side. Lampard has spoken very highly of the Belgian international and he should start, with Abdoulaye Doucoure likely to be alongside him in a new look partnership.

In attack Demarai Gray struggled to impress when given a chance from the start, and that could allow Alex Iwobi to keep his place in the side but in a more familiar winger role in his place.

Dwight McNeil should also keep his place in the side on the opposite flank ahead of Dele Alli, which would see Anthony Gordon continue as the striker in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin despite Salomon Rondon being available again after his ban.

Predicted Everton XI vs Aston Villa: Pickford; Tarkowski, Coady, Holgate; Patterson, Doucoure, Onana, Mykolenko; McNeil, Gordon, Iwobi.