Aston Villa podcaster: Diego Carlos won’t walk into first-team but Ezri Konsa likely to take hit in long run
Diego Carlos will have a fight on his hands for a spot in the Aston Villa starting line-up after the recent form of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings in the heart of Unai Emery’s defence.
The Brazilian centre-back returned to action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bristol Rovers on Friday (24 March), playing for 67 minutes in the 3-1 loss to Bristol Rovers.
Carlos, 30, has been sidelined for over six months following a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Premier League encounter against Everton back in August, but now looks primed and ready to compete with Konsa and Mings for consistent minutes.
The former Sevilla player isn’t going to find an easy route into Emery’s team, though, with the English defensive duo keeping three clean sheets in their last four Premier League outings and not conceding an open play goal in over 300 minutes.
Konsa, who started the season off in inconsistent fashion under Steven Gerrard, has stepped up to Emery’s demands in recent weeks, adapting his game to staying patient while in possession of the ball and building up attacks from the back.
Despite his form, the former Brentford man is the most expendable asset out of him and Mings and could start to feel Carlos breathing down his neck for a starting spot in the coming weeks.
Speaking to Villa News, Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey admitted that Konsa was the most likely to drop out for Carlos, but that the Brazilian won’t walk into the team.
“It’s going to be exciting to see Diego Carlos get back into the mix,” he said.
“I can imagine it will be Konsa who takes the hit when he’s fully fit, but everyone has to fight for their place in the team, so I can’t imagine he will walk in.
“Carlos will only be brought in if it’s the right time and Emery feels he has trained better than Konsa. Only then will he bring him into the team.“
Emery’s side return to Premier League action on Saturday, 1 April, when they square off against Chelsea, in a match that has huge ramifications for the club’s European hopes.
Whether Carlos will be deemed fit enough to feature so soon after his injury return is questionable, but over the long run, a tasty battle for places in the Aston Villa defence could be set to start.
In other Aston Villa news, an academy talent is ready for an Unai Emery baptism after what he has done in the Championship.