Smith tipped to 'shock' Everton with Aston Villa starting XI amid devastating injury reveal - Agbonlahor

Gabby Agbonlahor has tipped Dean Smith to "shock" Everton with his Aston Villa starting XI on Saturday.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Villa's record Premier League striker suggested Smith could start two strikers at Goodison Park or push Ollie Watkins to the left and hand Keinan Davis his first Premier League start through the middle.

Smith will be without captain Jack Grealish who has had a "positive scan" and could be back training next week.

Trezeguet is a long-term absentee and Football Insider understands he will be out for a year with an ACL which represents a devastating blow.

Davis scored his first Premier League goal last weekend after being introduced from the bench and Agbonlahor has suggested he may earn his first start this weekend.

He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Dean Smith might look at the next few games and think ‘You know what, let me experiment, let me see what other plays do.’

“We might see Watkins drift over the left. Or, he might go two up front with Watkins and Davis and try something different.

“That might shock Everton, seeing Villa play with two strikers. 

“Keinan adds that physicality as well. Sometimes I think Watkins up there on his own needs that help. A big striker like Keinan who’s strong and can hold it up might be a good idea.

“But I just feel like he needs to stay injury-free now. 

“Wesley’s back as well so there’s even more competition for places.”

Speaking ahead of the game, Smith insisted his side were fully focused on securing a top-10 finish.

He told Birmingham Live: "It’s something we were aiming to do anyway, we weren’t satisfied with finishing 17th last season."

In other news, Aston Villa are to tell a £7million star to find a new club.