Aston Villa: Pundit shares Moussa Diaby selection verdict ahead of Premier League clash v Fulham
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will “obviously look at” recalling Moussa Diaby to the starting XI for the Villans Premier League clash with Fulham, according to Alan Hutton.
Emery’s side travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday (17 February) looking to get back to winning ways having lost their last two matches in all competitions, the most recent of which was a disappointing Premier League defeat at the hands of Manchester United.
Despite being Villa’s most high-profile addition of the summer transfer window, Diaby has been forced to feature from the bench in recent weeks, playing only a combined 73 minutes in the Villans’ last three matches in all competitions.
While the bright form of Leon Bailey and John McGinn has kept the Frenchman out the side, Hutton expects Emery to consider starting the 24-year-old from the off as he reshuffles his pack following Boubacar Kamara’s injury.
“He’s always made one or two changes,” Hutton told Villa News.
“Matty Cash has been in and out with Ezri Konsa out there. They’ll have to make a change in midfield so that depends on whether he puts Youri Tielemans in there.
“There’s a few options that he’ll obviously look at with Diaby on the bench. I think Bailey has been excellent, he’s signed his new contract and looks very confident at this moment in time. I think Ramsey played really well against Manchester United and he’s obviously been missing for a long time through injury.
“There will probably be a couple of changes and he’ll look to freshen it up after the United game, but not too many I wouldn’t have thought.”
Is Unai Emery set to hand Moussa Diaby Aston Villa recall?
Diaby started his Villa career in electric form with a string of goals and assists in his opening few games at Villa Park, but over the last few months, the Frenchman has found regular first-team football hard to come by as he has been in and out of Emery’s side.
While no one at Villa Park will be happy to see Kamara ruled out, the midfielder’s injury will likely open the door for some players to return to the fold and given his bright recent cameos from the bench, Diaby is more than worthy of a start.
Should the 24-year-old be included from the off at Craven Cottage, he will be hoping to add to his four Premier League goals this term and help fire Villa back into the Champions League places.
In other Aston Villa news, Villa’s Champions League hopes have been boosted following a new update from Fabrizio Romano
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