Unai Emery leads Aston Villa through a hectic fixture schedule in the next fortnight, and our squad will likely be tested to prove we’re capable of competing on multiple fronts this season.
Starting with Crystal Palace on Saturday, Villa will play five games in 14 days as the Europa Conference League group stage gets underway, while the third round of the Carabao Cup takes place towards the end of the month too.
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While the expectation is that we’ll go as close to full strength as possible this weekend having come out of the international break, Emery will likely need to rotate and rest key players in the upcoming fortnight to ensure we stay healthy and as fresh as possible.
That in turn will open up opportunities for others to step in and deliver, and we’ll likely see at least six key individuals get bigger roles between now and September 30, in addition to Robin Olsen who’ll likely deputise for Emiliano Martinez at times.
Defensive duo will be called upon
Having lost Tyrone Mings to a significant knee injury for most, if not all, of this season, there will be a heavier responsibility on the shoulders of Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Diego Carlos.
That defensive trio could arguably all start in our strongest XI, and although we have Matty Cash, Lucas Digne and the returning Alex Moreno to support them on either side, Emery may well choose to rotate in the centre-half positions and rest them where possible.
That in turn opens the door for Clement Lenglet and Calum Chambers to prove their worth as part of this squad, and while it won’t be easy to come in and produce at a very high level with a lack of regular football, it’s vital that they give us a solid foundation when called upon.
Chance for Tielemans after early frustration, Zaniolo to shine
During the International break, Youri Tielemans hinted at an element of frustration with his role so far this season. Having struggled to displace either Douglas Luiz or Boubacar Kamara, he’s been limited to a bench role.
That was good to hear as it’s important we’ve got ambitious players in the squad who are pushing not only themselves but those ahead of them in the pecking order, and with so many games in quick succession, the Belgian international will get his chance.
Given the technical quality he possesses as well as his experience, we’ll no doubt see him become a more influential presence in the side.
Similarly, Nicolo Zaniolo has impressed off the bench so far and he dazzled for Italy over the break. With his strength, speed and technical skill in possession, we’ll hopefully see plenty of magic from him in our next few games.
The 24-year-old is surely pushing for a more prominent role off the back of what we’ve seen in limited time thus far, and it’s hoped that he’s made an impression on Emery to deserve that sooner rather than later.
Dendoncker adds important, different dynamic
Consistency has been a major problem for Leander Dendoncker, as he has missed significant periods and left a hole in our midfield depth chart.
However, he’s now available again and hopefully ready to play a pivotal role for us in midfield. Similarly to his compatriot, both he and Tielemans will be itching to be more involved and could even partner one another as we rotate.
With his physicality, presence and steeliness in midfield to give us a foothold in games coupled with the quality on the ball to be influential too, he’ll certainly be a valuable option for Emery to have at his disposal.
Duran must lessen burden on Watkins
Having scored two goals already in five appearances, it’s been a positive start from Jhon Duran as he is set for an integral role in the squad this season.
As chief support for Ollie Watkins, the Colombian international has to deliver when asked to step into the starting line-up, as we can’t afford to solely rely on Watkins for goals and gamble on his ability to avoid injury.
Similarly to Dendoncker in midfield, Duran gives us a different dynamic in attack with his physicality and characteristics as more of a target man in addition to his movement off the ball, and so he’ll hopefully thrive as he continues to adapt to Emery’s demands and shows improvement as he develops his all-round game.
