Predicted line-up: David Moyes makes big decision on one player and seven changes to West Ham side for Aston Villa

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David Moyes makes big decision on one player and seven changes to his West Ham United side for the clash with Aston Villa.

High-flying West Ham travel to Villa looking to consolidate their place in the Premier League’s top four.

The Hammers are aiming to make it three Prem wins in a row at Villa Park – and five in all competitions – after victories at Everton and at home against Tottenham.

Aston Villa meanwhile have lost their last three games and Dean Smith finds himself under pressure.

David Moyes has worked wonders at West Ham. The Hammers narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot by a single win last season.

And this term West Ham are showing they are no flash in the pan.

The east Londoners flying high in fourth place in the Premier League, they are one win from the Europa League last 16 and into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after famous victories over Manchester United and Manchester City.

Moyes has admitted he is having to carefully plan and manage his squad to deal with the jam-packed campaign.

So far the Scot has done that masterfully.

And he faces another test of his juggling skills against Aston Villa.

There has been a lot of talk this week about Moyes’s big selection dilemma for Villa over Ben Johnson and Vladimir Coufal.

Johnson has been remarkable for the Hammers during Coufal’s recent injury absence.

Coufal made his return late on in the game against Man City in midweek.

Moyes makes big decision on one player and seven changes to West Ham side for Aston Villa

But Moyes looks set to keep Johnson in the side as the young star has the shirt. And it gives Coufal more time to step up his match fitness, probably with a start against Genk in the Europa League this week.

As a result there will likely be seven changes to the West Ham side for the 4.30pm kick off against Aston Villa.

Lukasz Fabianski will come back in for the excellent Alphonse Areola.

First choice centre-back pairing Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna will come back in for Issa Diop and Craig Dawson.

Declan Rice will replace Mark Noble in central midfield.

And West Ham’s front four will be completely changed with Nikola Vlasic, Manuel Lanzini, Arthur Masuaku and Andriy Yarmolenko making way for Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio.

Predicted West Ham starting XI to face Aston Villa:

Fabianski, Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Soucek, Rice, Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma, Antonio.