Emi Buendia like a new signing for Aston Villa as Unai Emery drops 'fantastic' verdict

Aston Villa playmaker Emi Buendia was praised as "fantastic" by Unai Emery after making his return from an 11-month injury layoff in pre-season.

Argentina international Buendia entered the fray in place of Morgan Rogers on 63 minutes with the Villans 4-1 down against Columbus Crew, donning the claret and blue for the first time since last August.

Although Buendia couldn't make any difference to the scoreline as his side suffered their first pre-season defeat, just getting back onto the pitch represents a huge step forward for the 27-year-old.

At full-time, Emery said to Villa's club website [28 July]: “The best news, is Emiliano Buendia’s comeback after one year.

“We are happy with his return and we have to work now with him – the first 30 minutes he played, really, is fantastic for us and for the team.”

Emi Buendia can be like a new signing for new-look Aston Villa

The last full season in which Buendia played regularly for the Villans feels like a completely different world to what's in store nowadays at Villa Park.

While the 2022/23 campaign began with Steven Gerrard in the dugout and an early-season relegation dogfight, the Argentine returns to the fold with Emery's Villa about to enter the Champions League.

Buendia's numbers from his last full campaign suggest he will be capable of slotting back into Emery's side, having featured in all 38 Premier League matches in 2022/23, including 27 starts [SofaScore].

His five goals from an xG of 6.36 that campaign suggest there's room for improvement upon his return, as is just two assists from an expected assist rate of 4.19 and a total of eight big chances created.

Furthermore, his 1.3 shots per game, at a conversion rate of 10 per cent [SofaScore], will likely improve once he's assimilated back into the vibrant, attack-minded team Emery has built in his absence.

A mix of right-footed (two), left-footed (one) and headed (two) goals also suggest that Buendia is extremely capable in the box, something Villa will need in order to support Ollie Watkins up front.

Buendia also maintained a 79 per cent passing accuracy, dropping slightly to 73 per cent in the opposition half, in 2022/23, while 1.1 key passes and 1.2 accurate long balls per game (at a rate of 70 per cent) suggest he could also operate deeper in the Villans' midfield.

He'll certainly have to improve being dispossessed 10.1 times per match, but that progress will likely come once Emery decides where to utilise his fit-again number 10 next season.

Wherever he's used, Villa fans the world over will be happy to see Buendia back, as they gear up for potentially the most exciting season in the club's modern history.

In other Aston Villa news, Leander Dendoncker has been told to quit Villa Park after new summer transfer developments

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