Aston Villa: Unai Emery must hand Omari Kellyman opportunity in place of first-team flop
Unai Emery is currently in the process of building a special project at Villa Park, already leading Aston Villa into the top-four spots in the Premier League and competing for the Europa Conference League title.
Though youth players have found it difficult to stamp their mark in the senior team this season, talents such as Jhon Duran, Moussa Diaby, Morgan Rogers and Tim Iroegbunam have all played their part.
Other than the interference from injuries, Emery seems to have found his preferred spine for the starting XI, sticking with it for the majority of matches, only making one or two changes if needed.
But as the end-of-season run-in approaches, with just nine matches of the Premier League campaign remaining, the Spaniard will need to rely on some of his younger gems to impact the first team.
Omari Kellyman is one of those potential academy stars who could play a vital role for the Villains, with the club still competing in two competitions.
The 18-year-old has three senior appearances to his name so far this season, playing a full 90 minutes against Hibernian in the Europa Conference League Qualification rounds in August 2023, before being handed minutes against Everton and Ajax.
Could Morgan Rogers help Omari Kellyman’s first-team minutes at Aston Villa?
Though Kellyman’s minutes under Emery have been limited, Morgan Rogers could have handed the former Derby County man the golden opportunity to claim another appearance for Aston Villa.
Despite arriving from Middlesborough with quite a lot of expectancy from the fans, Rogers has taken his time to settle into life at Villa Park, making just six appearances so far.
The 21-year-old would have been disappointed during Villa’s Europa Conference League match against Ajax on Thursday 14 March, having been hooked at half-time.
Picking up an early yellow card was the determining factor, but a 0 per cent shot accuracy, 33% per cent of ground duels won and 0 per cent of aerial duels won, will not have helped his case. [FotMob]
There was a slight redemption from Rogers during a 1-1 draw with West Ham United before the international break, but it may not be enough to persuade the manager to keep his starting XI spot.
The winger boasted a 100 per cent shot accuracy, as well as 77 per cent pass accuracy, but once again, he won 0 per cent of his tackles and only 33 per cent of his ground duels, while lasting just 63 minutes. [FotMob]
With an all-important European clash with Lille on the horizon, fitness will be a primary concern as matches against Wolves, Manchester City and Brentford present themselves first.
This would be the perfect opportunity for Kellyman to gain more valuable first-team minutes and stake his case for a more inclusive role under Emery.
In other Aston Villa news, a journalist has reacted as a Villa flop is closing in on a £4million exit.
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