Aston Villa outcast Lucas Digne impresses v Brentford, can help ease European burden next season
Alex Moreno has been a superb performer for Aston Villa since his January move from Real Betis, shining at left-back under talented manager Unai Emery.
The defender has shown his abilities at both ends of the pitch in his brief spell at the club, playing a key role as Villa have rapidly climbed the Premier League table.
But he wasn’t at his roaring best in the clash with Brentford on Saturday (22 April), with Emery replacing Moreno with Lucas Digne just after the hour mark in the 1-1 draw.
Digne has largely been limited to watching on from the bench or late substitute appearances since Moreno’s arrival, but the former proved he is still up for a fight for his place in the team with a fine display against the Bees.
He was only handed 24 minutes on the pitch in West London, but impressed with two key passes in his brief cameo, bettered only for Villa by Emiliano Buendia’s four, as per WhoScored.
Moreover, Digne completed 16 of his 21 passes, and more impressively showed his effectiveness in the final third with five crosses, more than any other Villa player. The left-back also demonstrated the defensive side of his game by winning three of his five duels.
While Emery won’t be getting carried away anytime soon, many Aston Villa fans certainly will, with their club in with a real chance of securing European football for next season. They currently occupy sixth spot in the Premier League table and are enjoying a superb nine-match unbeaten run.
If a place is secured for Europe next season, Emery will need a big squad to be able to continue competing on all fronts, regardless of which European competition they are playing in.
Constant midweek and weekend football takes its toll, as has been proven with the likes of West Ham this season, with Emery requiring somewhat background players like Digne to be ready to go when called upon.
The French defender has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, with the Premier League outfit set to seriously consider parting with Digne if an appropriate offer arrives, as per Football Insider.
Unless a seriously big offer does come in, however, Emery should be doing his all to keep Digne in the Midlands as the club bids for a successful European journey next season.
Digne himself will want first team football, and that may arrive either in the Premier League, in Europe, or in a combination of both as Emery will most certainly rotate his starting XI amid the expected busy schedule.
At 29 years old and with over 150 Premier League appearances to his name, Digne represents an experienced option for his manager when the club try to balance their commitments in various competitions.
In other Aston Villa news, one academy star took a huge step forward in his already burgeoning career after being named in Emery’s match-day squad against Newcastle earlier this month.