Duo handed debuts for Villa Europe tie

Aston Villa caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald threw two of his young players into the deep end for tonight’s first leg of the Europa League play-off tie with Rapid Vienna.

American-born defender Eric Lichaj and midfielder Jonathan Hogg, both 21, were handed debuts for the game at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium.

The duo were among eight changes to the side from Villa’s season-opening 3-0 Barclays Premier League victory over West Ham, with Stephen Warnock, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton the only survivors from Saturday’s starting line-up.

Rapid were today dealt a blow ahead of the game with star striker Nikica Jelavic, who scored both goals in Rapid’s 2-2 aggregate draw with Villa in the same stage of the competition last season, opting not to play.

Jelavic is due to fly into Glasgow tomorrow to complete a move to Rangers that is likely to cost the club around £4m.