Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Team news and line-ups before FA Cup quarter-final today

We’re expecting the line-ups to be released in the next five minutes…

The report from Villa’s last match…

Six years ago, Aston Villa’s April included a trip to Rotherham. Now they will visit Paris next month. Their horizons have broadened, their life got more glamorous. A Championship club in 2019 are Champions Leaguequarter-finalists in 2025. “It’s mad,” said the captain John McGinn, a veteran of the journey to Rotherham. “A lot of years of hard work.”

They will face Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight after a brace from a loaned PSG player, Marco Asensio, with the added benefit that he will be eligible to play his parent club at the Parc des Princes. It is another indication of how far and how fast Villa have come that a triple Champions League winner was on the scoresheet for them again. So, too, was Ian Maatsen, a Champions League finalist with Borussia Dortmund last season. Club Brugge, who scarcely boast the resources to attract such players, were eliminated.

When is Preston vs Aston Villa?

The FA Cup quarter-final will kick off at 1.30pm on Sunday, 30 March at Deepdale Stadium in Preston.

The match will be shown free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage starting at 1.15pm. Subscribers can also stream the action online via BBC iPlayer.

Preston XI: Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson, Meghoma; Ledson, Þórðarson, Frokjaer-Jensen; Keane, Jakobsen.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Asensio; Rashford.

For Villa, Ollie Watkins is the only new injury doubt after the international break, as the England striker was forced off due to a knee issue against Albania.

Ross Barkley is the other player who will likely be out, so Emery has almost a full squad to pick from – though the question remains how strong a line-up he will choose.

Marcus Rashford could make a start at striker in Watkins’ absence, while Marco Asensio will be looking to build upon his good recent performances.

Preston boss Heckingbottom has a number of potential absentees ahead of the match, with right-back Brad Potts a doubt alongside midfielder Ali McCann and centre-back Jack Whatmough.

Defender Jordan Storey had a recent injury lay-off but returned and should be fine to face Villa.

Preston North End take on Aston Villa at Deepdale in the first of two FA Cup quarter-finals today, with the Championship side looking to cause an upset in the last-eight.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side are the only team from the second tier left in the competition, though they have a storied past in the Cup, winning it twice and finishing as losing finalists on five occasions, the most recent of which was in 1965.

That year was also the last time the Lilywhites reached the semi-finals, and if they’re to make it to Wembley they’ll have to beat an in-form Villa team.

Unai Emery’s side are just four points of top four and have a huge Champions League last-eight tie against PSG coming up, but they won’t dismiss this match as an easy one as they bid to reach a first final since 2015.

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s FA Cup quarter-final match between Preston and Aston Villa.

Unai Emery’s side head into the game as heavy favourites as they bid to make a first semi-final appearance since 2015, while Preston hope for a fairytale cupset at Deepdale as they look to make the last-four of this competition for the first time since 1964.

We’ll have all the latest updates and team news right here.