George Hemmings may have just put Aston Villa first as England update emerges

George Hemmings has struggled early on for Aston Villa this season.

The 19-year-old impressed Unai Emery during pre-season and put himself in the mix to start games ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The left-winger has started four Premier League games for the Villans this season, filling the huge hole that Morgan Rogers left after he departed to join Chelsea.

But Emery was keen to bring in the likes of Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Mbaye and Alejandro Garnacho, as all three provide competition on the left side of attack.

Manzambi's return to fitness allowed him to start in the 3-2 win over Tottenham, while Emi Buendia took Hemmings' spot out on the left.

Hemmings has work to do, and the latest England U20 update may prove that he is keen to fight at Aston Villa

George Hemmings England U20s withdrawal could be Aston Villa sign

Hemmings was given the call-up by Darren Moore ahead of England U20s Elite League games this international break.

The likes of Manchester United's Ayden Heaven, Everton's Harrison Armstrong and Tottenham's Mikey Moore were all called up and featured in the U20s game against Italy on Friday.

However, an update from Villa correspondent for Birmingham Live, John Townley, reported that Hemmings has withdrawn from the squad.

There are no updates to suggest that this is injury-related.

Given the competition that Hemmings now faces at Villa Park, this could have been a conscious decision by the teenager to give Emery something to think about before club football returns.

As per FotMob data, Hemmings has an average rating of 6.14 in the Premier League so far, creating a low 0.90 chances per 90.

He also completes just 0.90 dribbles successfully per match at a 50 per cent success rate, with a 34.1 per cent duels win rate.

He ranks as one of the lowest in his position on average for touches per game with 29.2, and doesn't exactly make up for it with defensive contributions either, which stand at 5.72 per match,

Hemmings has created a measly 0.05 in expected assists and has a poor 73.7 per cent passing accuracy.

Perhaps he sees the break as a chance to impress Emery at Boodymoor Heath rather than doing it while away from B6.

Villa's behind-closed-doors friendly not good news for Hemmings

Aston Villa beat Southampton 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday.

The only goalscorer of the game was Garnacho, who is yet to start a game for the Villans.

Villa brought the Argentine in on loan from Chelsea earlier this summer, and he has far more experience than Hemmings at this level.

Garnacho's goal only gives him a boosted chance of playing more minutes once club football resumes, but that only puts Hemmings' chances of game time in doubt.

Hopefully, for the youngster, he is not injured and he can impress Emery at Bodymoor over these next two weeks.