Anthony Onifade

Wed 20 September 2023 9:10, UK

Aston Villa defender Alex Moreno returned to the matchday squad in their 3-1 triumph over Crystal Palace and Unai Emery must decide whether to give him a run out in their Europa Conference League clash at Legia Warsaw.

The Villans travel to Poland to face off against Warsaw in what is expected to be a difficult test in their much anticipated and long-awaited European return on Thursday (21 September).

With AZ Alkmaar and Zrinjski Mostar also in their group, Emery’s side will be expected to top the section but they will have to brave a hostile crowd in Warsaw on opening night.

Ahead of the match, the Spaniard could be set for some critical selection dilemmas with a Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday also to consider.

And that could certainly centre around former Real Betis man Alex Moreno.

The left-back had been out since suffering a hamstring injury in May but is now ready to return to action.

Moreno made 19 Premier League appearances after becoming boss Unai Emery’s first signing when he joined in a £13million move from Real Betis in January, establishing himself as a regular starter before his injury.

The Spaniard was terrific for the Villans last season, recording three assists from his 19 league appearances, topping his expected assists (xA) of 2.58, averaging 1.2 key passes, completing 46% of his dribbles and also averaging 1.2 tackles per game.

According to the Opta-powered stats at FBREF, over the last year, out of every full-back in the top five European leagues, Moreno is in the 96th percentile of players for progressive carries (3.87) and the top 20% of his counterparts for progressive passes received (6.16 per 90) and successful take-ons (1.24 per 90).

Moreno’s attacking qualities have been well documented, and in an Aston Villa side that alters their tactical framework to allow the Spaniard to bomb forward, it has proven the perfect match.

Emery is certainly well stocked in that department now, with Digne now establishing himself as a more viable competition in comparison to last season.

Digne had proven pretty shy, as the stats showed, he was averaging just 0.1 dribbles per game at a dreadful rate of 21% [SofaScore], also underperforming his 1.92 expected assists and creating just two big chances throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

Those are worrying numbers for such an experienced international player, and such stats meant Digne may not have the required quality to trump the injured Alex Moreno in the long term.

However, the Frenchman has been totally revitalised so far this campaign recording an impressive one goal and five assists and his 89th percentile ranking of crosses into the penalty area and 85th key pass percentile ranking among full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year [FBRef] certainly indicate a player who is improving vastly.

Digne is considerably usurping those torrid numbers from last season in just six games already, averaging around 3 key passes per game, but also excelling in his defensive numbers, averaging 1.3 interceptions, 1.3 tackles, 4.3 balls recovered and winning 60% of his total duels [SofaScore].

With Moreno now back in action and ready to go, Digne now faces the possible threat of losing his position but it is the perfect headache for Emery and that will certainly begin this week as he mulls over who should start Thursday’s Europa Conference League opener.

A critical decision.

In other Aston Villa news, one player registered an unexpected “5/10” score in a lifeless performance v Crystal Palace as the player ratings are shared.