Unai Emery to unleash Jhon Duran after latest RB Leipzig v Aston Villa news
Unai Emery could be ready to take a bold approach at Aston Villa and unleash Jhon Duran to start alongside Ollie Watkins against RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
The Colombian scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win against Southampton on Saturday [7 December] in his maiden Premier League start of the season to help the Villans record consecutive league victories for the first time since September.
Villa are in a fantastic position to stretch the winning streak to three matches after Birmingham Live reported on Monday [9 December] that RB Leipzig will be without seven first-team regulars through injury for the Champions League clash, including centre-backs Castello Lukeba and El Chadaille Bitshiabu.
While Emery is expected to reintroduce Watkins to the starting lineup for the midweek clash, the Spaniard could take full advantage of the depleted Bundesliga outfit and select both him and Duran to start in Germany on 10 December.
Aston Villa have to start Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran v RB Leipzig
Duran has earned himself a reputation as a super-sub for Aston Villa this season, prompting the fanbase to demand that Emery make the forward a regular starter.
The Spaniard has had a massive headache this year choosing who of his two forwards to lead the line for the Villains, but the upcoming clash against RB Leipzig provides the perfect opportunity to integrate both into the starting lineup.
With two first team centre-backs set to miss the clash, Duran and Watkins should have a field day against whoever is selected to thwart the Villa attack in Leipzig.
Watkins has scored seven goals with three assists in 15 Premier League appearances this year, resulting in a goal contribution every three games.
Furthermore, he ranks in the top five percentile of all Premier League forwards for non-penalty xG and shots on target.
He is also in the top 15 percentile for chances created [Fotmob], paired with Duran, who enjoyed a 50 per cent shot conversion ratio against Southampton [Sofascore].
On that basis alone, the pair could wreak havoc in the Champions League.
Duran scored his goal at Villa Park from two shots on target and could have added to his goal tally with one big chance missed, but he showed off his overall game on Saturday, completing 79 per cent of his passes, 50 per cent of his long balls and winning 60 per cent of his duels.
Combined, the pair have scored 16 goals across all competitions for Aston Villa. Emery could unlock a whole new dimension to his attack if he can find a way to pair the forwards in the same lineup.
In other Aston Villa news, a Ezri Konsa update has emerged at Villa amid his recent injury issues.
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