Alan Hutton believes Ludwig Augustinsson will be Aston Villa backup next season
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Alan Hutton has insisted that new Aston Villa signing Ludwig Augustinsson will be a backup next season, but has backed him to challenge Lucas Digne.
The former Scottish international has outlined his belief that Augustinsson is not at Villa to make up the numbers, though he will likely start the season on the bench.
Augustinsson arrives after a single season with Spanish outfit Sevilla after being tracked by Villa way back in 2016 when he was at Copenhagen.
“At this moment, he will be a backup. I don’t think there’s any getting away from that, Digne is the number one left-back,” he exclusively told Villa News.
“I think with Matt Targett going to Newcastle, Steven Gerrard needed another body in there.
“That’s not to say he’s there to make up the numbers, he’s an international footballer. He played alongside Diego Carlos at Sevilla last season, so he’s got that connection there anyway, so that’s all plus points for Gerrard.
“He comes in as the number two if you like, but with a view to pushing Digne all the way. It’s gonna be difficult, but I’m sure he’s up for the challenge.”
Makes sense
Augustinsson is a low-risk signing for Villa that makes absolute sense.
While he did have a difficult season in Seville, his time at Werder Bremen showed him to be a very capable full-back when used correctly.
He already has relationships with Diego Carlos and goalkeeper Robin Olsen, which will help him settle into his new surroundings quickly.
While he only played 30 minutes against Brisbane Roar, he looked bright as he put in some good crosses for Cameron Archer to meet.
He may only be a backup for now, but he is one that could leave a strong impression at Villa.
In other Aston Villa news, we broke down the Young Lions to watch out for in their upcoming friendly against Manchester United.