Jaden Philogene can become new main man after Aston Villa display v Manchester United
Aston Villa may have found their next main man in Jaden Philogene after Unai Emery’s comments following their 0-0 draw with Manchester United.
Philogene started a Premier League match for the first time having previously come off the bench three times so far this season, playing a full 90 minutes in the goalless draw at Villa Park.
The 22-year-old winger has taken quite the convoluted route to the Villans’ first-team via loans and permanent transfers elsewhere, but is now a regular for Emery’s ever-developing side.
After the draw at Villa Park on 6 October, Emery said: “Jaden is really playing in the idea we have defensively and offensively, being competitive and challenging himself with the capacity he has to increase our level.
“He is doing that – I am very happy.”
Jaden Philogene excels on first Premier League start for Aston Villa
Amid a drab draw which few neutral fans will have gained much excitement from, Philogene impressed on his full Premier League debut and fired off two shots for 0.12 expected goals (FotMob).
The England youth international registered a further 0.03 expected assists, completing 73 per cent of his 15 attempted passes amid limited service to the flanks at Villa Park.
Restricted to just 28 touches in total, Philogene made sure to provide an impact with each and every one, seeing one of his two efforts on goal blocked and a further put wide of the mark.
Though only two of these touches came in the Manchester United box, Philogene also completed two final-third passes and won 80 per cent of his five ground duels (FotMob).
Playing on the left edge of Emery’s midfield in Villa’s 4-4-1-1 formation, Philogene provided much better defensive cover than that of Leon Bailey on the right, who was taken off midway through the second half.
Attempting two tackles and coming away with possession on one occasion, Philogene also chipped in with four defensive recoveries and won a free-kick in a stop-start encounter.
Also been given the nod to start in Villa’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich four days prior, it’s clear that Emery trusts Philogene at the highest level.
Morgan Rogers has burst onto the scene as a main man this season, next, it could be Philogene.
In other Aston Villa news, Bryan King expects Jhon Duran to demand a significant wage increase in his new contract at Villa Park.
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