Unai Emery to hand Moussa Diaby starting role for Aston Villa v Olympiacos in John McGinn twist
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will start Moussa Diaby for the Europa Conference League clash with Olympiacos after a new injury update at Villa Park, according to Alan Hutton.
The 24-year-old Frenchman dropped to the bench for the Villans’ 2-2 draw with Chelsea but was introduced after just 27 minutes when Youri Tielemans hobbled off with an injury before he was substituted himself in the closing stages.
Reports have since confirmed that the Belgian midfielder will miss Villa’s next two matches, against Olympiacos on Thursday (2 May) and Brighton on Sunday (5 May) after scans showed a hematoma on the groin [Jacob Tanswell, 29 April].
While Hutton has admitted he feels sorry for Tielemans after his latest setback, he thinks the 26-year-old’s injury will create a space at the top end of the pitch for Diaby to return to the starting XI as John McGinn will deployed deeper.
“He’ll have to make changes both in goal and to replace Youri Tielemans,” Hutton told Villa News.
“I feel for Tielemans because I think we were starting to see the best of him and then he picks up a groin injury which isn’t ideal. He’s going to be missing but I think he probably just moves John McGinn back in one if I’m honest.
“He’ll play alongside Douglas Luiz and then you have the choice of who you want to play up front with Ollie Watkins. It will probably be Diaby who comes in. Morgan Rogers has been outstanding in recent weeks so he’ll play, Leon Bailey plays and they’ll go with their strongest team.
“They have to, it’s the semi-final so they have to pick their best team and I think that’s probably what it is at this moment in time.”
Will Moussa Diaby start for Unai Emery and Aston Villa in Villa Park showdown v Olympiacos?
Diaby has had a mixed first season at Villa Park. When the Frenchman has been at his best, he has won praise from supporters and pundits alike for his excellent skill on the ball which has made him undroppable at times.
But too often games have passed him by and when the likes of Watkins, Bailey and Rogers are fit and firing as they have been for the majority of the season, he is going to find it hard to hold down a consistent place in the starting XI.
It is not an overstatement to suggest that this could potentially be the biggest game of Villa’s season and Emery will need all his players to be at their best. A strong first leg will see Villa have one foot in a European semi-final.
Hopefully, no matter who starts, the Villans will find a way to take a lead into the second leg.
In other Aston Villa news, Clement Lenglet has been tipped to make his move to Villa Park permanent after a new update
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