Joe Cole prediction spot on as Aston Villa fans could have new hero
Joe Cole made a prediction shortly ahead of Aston Villa's clash with Club Brugge that did not take long to come true.
The Villans put their Premier League woes to one side on Tuesday evening for their opening Champions League clash of the campaign.
Villa came away from Jan Breydel Stadium with a thrilling 3-2 win to make a triumphant start on their return to the competition.
John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia netted in the first half, either side of Hugo Vetlessen's temporary equaliser.
Nicolas Jackson also found the net just before half-time to give Unai Emery's men some breathing space.
Nicolo Tresoldi's penalty just after the hour mark set up a nervy finale, but Villa held on to pick up a morale-boosting win.
Nicolas Jackson comes good in Villa win vs Brugge
Jackson arrived from Chelsea in a club-record £65million deal as a replacement for Ollie Watkins.
Villa's struggles in front of goal this season, with only one attempt on target in three Premier League games, has been well documented.
Eyes were therefore on Jackson and his attacking teammates when the starting line-up dropped in Brugge.
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of the game, pundit Cole backed Jackson to come good.
"Nicolas Jackson is a handful. I still think there is a player in there," Cole said.
"If anyone can get a tune out of him, it is Unai Emery and he has worked with him before.
"He's a runner, I wouldn't say he has got clever movement but he is strong and powerful. He wants to be the main man which is a good thing."
Cole was spot on with that verdict as Jackson found the net and produced an impressive all-round display.
The 25-year-old chased down a ball over the top, got between two opposition defenders and made the most of some shocking Yann Sommer goalkeeping to open his account for Villa.
As per Sofascore, he also completed 18 of his 22 passes for an 82 per cent accuracy rate.
Jackson's expected goals (xG) value of 1.03 was also easily the most of any Villa player, while he also completed two of his four attempted dribbles.
It was a good display from the former Chelsea player as he showed exactly why he can fill the void left by Watkins and become a big fan favourite.
Aston Villa's win vs Club Brugge in numbers
Emery was desperate for a win on Tuesday night to show his side's early-season struggles are not something to worry about.
The Villans were made to dig deep in Belgium, but dig deep they did to edge an entertaining contest.
Brugge may have had more of the possession (64 per cent to Villa's 36 per cent), but the visitors registered the higher xG - 3.0 versus 1.46.
Villa also had more big chances (four to two) and shots (21 to 14), so Emery will feel the three points are more than justified.
The hope now is that this display can be carried back onto the domestic stage against Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.