Moussa Diaby is predicted by Dan Bardell to make a comeback to Aston Villa’s Premier League starting lineup for Sunday’s matchup against Brentford (17 December).
After being virtually constant over the first few months of the season, the French international has been benched for the last three league games.
After spending £51.9 million to join Villa from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, the 24-year-old winger has contributed five assists and three goals to the score in 16 league games this year.
Bardell thinks Diaby will make a comeback sooner rather than later since Unai Emery’s tactical choices, putting Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey ahead of him, are probably the reason for his recent exclusions.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “It’s a squad game isn’t it, he hasn’t done anything wrong, but Emery’s seen something in Tielemans and Bailey in the last few games and hasn’t felt the need to play him over them.
“There will be a point where Diaby comes back into the team, I suspect it will probably be Sunday against Brentford.
“But it is increasingly a squad game now and you need players that can come off the bench and make an impact as well. That’s what Bailey’s done to get himself in the team and that’s what Diaby’s going to have to do to get himself back into the team.
“He’s not really done anything wrong, it’s just you need certain players for certain games and, like I say, Emery’s seen something in Tielemans and Bailey that he’s felt he needed to start them against Man City and Arsenal.
“But Diaby will come back into the fray at some point, he’s been a good signing and he’s a very good footballer. It will inject a fire into his belly when he next starts a game.
“I don’t really think his form dropped off, maybe the goals and assists had dried up a little bit, but Diaby will come back into the team at some point. It’s just good that Villa have got these kind of options because that’s what you need.”
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