Aston Villa play host to Nottingham Forest on Saturday in what is set to be a tight affair at Villa Park.

Villa are beginning to pick up form, and haven’t lost in the league for five matches, whereas the visitors enter the game on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wolves.

Both sides suffered convincing defeats in the Carabao Cup in mid-week, and will look to bounce back from defeats to Middlesbrough and Chelsea respectively.

Managers Steve Bruce and Mark Warburton were extremely busy in the summer transfer window, bringing in a whole host of players in their attempt to strengthen their squads, and both sides look very different from the ones that ended the previous campaign.

It will be an intriguing match-up in Birmingham on Saturday evening, and here at Football League World we wondered who from each team would make a combined XI…

Manchester United loanee Sam Johnstone has to get the nod in goal, with the young shot-stopper making a real impression after rejoining the club for a second loan spell.

A back four was tricky to choose, but at full-back we have Armand Traore, who after returning from injury, is beginning to show why he was so highly rated at Arsenal, with Egyptian Ahmed Elmohamady on the opposite flank.

In the middle, room has to be made for John Terry, and although the former England captain hasn’t exactly set the division alight, he must still be considered one of the better defenders in the league.

Partnering him is youngster Joe Worrall, who pips £7 million rated James Chester from the side.

The youth team graduate has showed great character since breaking into the first team, and has quickly become one of the first names on Warburton’s team sheet.

Out wide we have Robert Snodgrass and new Forest signing Barrie McKay, who has been sensational since moving to the Championship from SPL side, Rangers.

In the middle Liam Bridcutt partners Glenn Whelan, with both players offering the back four a shield, while their tricky wingers bomb forward to join in with the attack.

A 4-4-2 formation seems the most effective with the players available, and big Daryl Murphy should partner Jonathan Kodjia upfront.

Kodjia is one of the best in the division so his inclusion was never in doubt, but the spirited nature of the ageing Murphy and his ability to find the net makes him somewhat of a surprise inclusion in this side, especially when you consider £7 million rated Villa striker Scott Hogan is not included.

The game at Villa Park will be tight on Saturday, and really could go either way, with two quality sides battling for Championship points.

Who would you include in this XI?