12% Nicolo Zaniolo needs standout performance to make up for last Aston Villa start
Nicolo Zaniolo has been handed his first start for Aston Villa since being dragged off at half-time against Nottingham Forest last month.
The Italian forward is yet to record a goal contribution for the Villans, being deployed as an off-the-bench impact in four of Villa’s 13 league games.
Since his poor performance at The City Ground at the beginning of November, Zaniolo has played just 27 minutes across two Europa Conference League matches, placed on the bench against Fulham and left out of Unai Emery’s squad altogether against Tottenham Hotspur.
The match against Forest was the second consecutive game where the 24-year-old had been hooked at the break, with his yellow card against Luton Town making him a liability.
It was all his own doing against the Reds, winning only 12 per cent of his ground duels, making him the player with the most duels lost in the match that Forest would go on to win 2-0. [FotMob]
Zaniolo managed just 23 touches, making only nine passes. He was also dispossessed four times and the home side continued to play their counter-attack style of football.
The player has not been trusted by Emery since, unable to make an impact as a substitute in the Europa League when called up.
While Bournemouth pose as a great opportunity for the loanee to prove himself at the club, it could also be another chance to be substituted early if he remains to be seen.
On loan from Galatasaray until the end of the season, Emery will hope to get a lot more out of the player, one that the fanbase was rather sceptical of, to begin with. Up until this point, the Villans have been proven right.
But each start is a new opportunity for Zaniolo to put the past displays behind him. The Cherries may well see his side as a weakness in the Villa team, but he could surprise a few if he puts in the amount of effort everyone knows he is capable of.
In other Aston Villa news, one academy wonder has been dealt a crushing blow to his first-team chances after a social media injury update.