Dan Bardell claims Alex Moreno will miss Europa Conference League clash, sets date for starting XI return
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Alex Moreno will miss Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League debut clash against Legia Warszawa but could return for the upcoming League Cup fixture, according to Dan Bardell.
The Spaniard has not featured for the Villans since May after picking up a hamstring injury against Liverpool last season but made the bench in their late 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace. Moreno was key to Villa’s uptick in form last season and cemented himself as a mainstay in Unai Emery’s new-look side.
On Thursday (21 September), Villa kick off their European campaign with an away trip to Poland to face top-flight runners-up Legia Warszawa, a fixture Emery’s side is expected to breeze past. Considering the lower-quality opposition, it could be the ideal chance for Moreno to get some competitive minutes under his belt after four months on the sidelines.
However, Bardell considers this clash too early for the 30-year-old to return, instead predicting Villa’s upcoming League Cup third-round game against Everton as Moreno’s return date.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I expect with Moreno, the Carabao Cup game in a few weeks will be the first time we see him start a game again.
“With it being the first time back in Europe, I expect Emery to go pretty much full tilt.
“It’ll be Lucas Digne starting, but having Moreno back is a great option. But the Carabao Cup will be when we see him build up his minutes.”
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