Aston Villa: Matty Cash could save Champions League hopes as injury update emerges
Matty Cash’s absence has been a pressing matter for Aston Villa this season and would be a welcome addition back to Unai Emery’s squad ahead of the end-of-season run-in.
The right-back returned from the international break with an injury and has not played a single minute since, having been substituted 11 minutes into Poland’s clash with Estonia (21 March).
Emery has been forced into changing Ezri Konsa’s position in defence, shifting him from centre-back to fill Cash’s vacant full-back spot, but the 26-year-old could be returning soon.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday (12 April), quoted by Ben Dinnery, Emery said: “We will train tomorrow. Today, we recovered with some players; we did compensation work.
“[Clement] Lenglet and [Matty] Cash are training today with the group. We’ll work tomorrow again and see how they will feel to get a decision about the team and the players to be available for Sunday.”
While Konsa has been a solid option at right-back, earning a call-up to the England national team for their friendly fixtures against Brazil and Belgium, fans will be excited about the prospect of Cash returning.
Unai Emery handed Aston Villa headache over Ezri Konsa v Matty Cash
Injuries have played a significant role in Villa dropping out of the top four spots in the Premier League, with Boubacar Kamara, Tyrone Mings and Cash all huge misses.
The Villans have won just one of their last four league matches, which will be a concern ahead of the end-of-season run-in, losing to Manchester City, drawing with West Ham United and Brentford, and beating Wolves.
While Konsa adds a lot more calmness to the backline, ranking in the top 99 percentile for pass completion, as per FBref, Cash’s attacking prowess from right-back is irreplaceable.
Michael Brown clearly agrees with this notion, having named him in his ‘Underrated XI of the Premier League season so far’, dubbing him “versatile and underrated”. [BBC Sport]
The 26-year-old ranks in the top 82 percentile for non-penalty goals, the top 94 percentile for shots, and the top 85 percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area, among full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues. [FBref]
Cash is also missed in defensive areas, boasting a top 75 percentile ranking for tackles and top 83 percentile ranking for blocks, compared to Konsa, who only ranks in the top 11 and 38 percentiles, respectively. [FBref]
Simply put, the centre-back is a lot better suited to a centre-back role, while Cash’s return will be very much welcomed by Emery and his staff. They will be hoping that he is fit to face Arsenal on Sunday 14 April.
In other Aston Villa news, a doctor has issued an “unfortunate” response as footage has emerged of Tyrone Mings with an update on his current situation.
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