Alex Moreno could be axed by Unai Emery as Aston Villa team news v Fulham predicted
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton predicts there’s a chance Lucas Digne could replace Alex Moreno in Unai Emery’s starting line-up ahead of Aston Villa versus Fulham on Tuesday night.
Villa welcome the Cottagers to Villa Park knowing that a win would see them rise above Tottenham and into fifth in the Premier League table.
Emery’s men are on a nine-match unbeaten run but they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Brentford at the weekend.
In that game, 29-year-old January signing Moreno struggled a bit and Villa arguably looked a better side when Digne, 29, replaced him with 24 minutes left on the clock/.
Digne hasn’t played much in recent weeks due to Moreno’s emergence at B6 but Hutton believes there’s a chance the Frenchman has a role to play against Fulham on Tuesday.
“There’s an opportunity there but it’s been difficult for Digne this season,” Hutton told Villa News.
“The manager’s brought in his own signing in Moreno and he’s done excellently. He gets up and down the pitch, he’s really starting to come into his game.
“But Emery does change things like that. He takes one full-back off and puts another one on, which you don’t see too often unless there’s an injury.
“There’s an opportunity for Digne but there’s a chance for Villa to go fifth, which is quite incredible from where they were.
“I know teams have a game in hand and stuff but you still want the points on the table.
“They’ve been on an incredible run.
“From where they were under Steven Gerrard to know is quite incredible.”
In other Aston Villa news, Christian Purslow is keeping his promise to the squad after a player arrived at Bodymoor Heath ahead of a potential transfer.