The four selection headaches facing Aston Villa boss Dean Smith

Add as preferred source on Google

Aston Villa have not really enjoyed a flying start back to life in the Premier League. Dean Smith’s team have lost three of their first four games and he will hope for a response after the international break.

Villa did claim a solitary win against Everton under the Villa Park floodlights, although they have been beaten by Tottenham, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

Having signed so many new players during the summer it may take a little while for Smith’s team to gel together. Supporters, however, will hope that is sooner rather than later.

With the international break now upon us, it’s time to take stock after the first month of fixtures and we look at four selection headaches facing Smith:

Right-back

Ahmed Elmohamady and Frederic Guilbert have both started two games each this season and you would expect Smith to pursue some continuity moving forward.

French defender Guilbert would probably be the supporters choice to occupy the spot. The 24-year-old looks set for a bright future in the game.

Last season he excelled in Ligue 1 with Caen and has arrived revitalised and ready to fight for a first-team place at Aston Villa.

Elmohamady, on the other hand, was an instrumental part of the team which won promotion to the Premier League.

It’s a tough one for Smith but he should pick a first-choice right-back and stick with them for a prolonged period of time.

Where does £10.8 million man fit in?

Marvelous Nakamba arrived from Club Brugge in the summer for £10.8 million (Birmingham Live) and has been busy working towards full fitness.

The 25-year-old did play the full 90 minutes of a 6-1 thrashing of Crewe Alexandra in the Carabao Cup to make his debut for the Villans.

Having spent such an amount on the player, however, it seems likely that Smith plans on utilising him at some point this season.

The Zimbabwean typically plays in defensive midfield so in order to force his way into the team he will need to oust Douglas Luiz.

That won’t be easy for the player but it’s a challenge he will undoubtedly relish.

Jota or El-Ghazi

Jota was signed on a free transfer from Birmingham City in the summer and has started twice for the Villans.

Anwar El-Ghazi was a focal point in Villa’s team last season and his loan was turned permanent in the summer. He has also started twice in the opening four games.

Trezeguet has started all four games and has failed to contribute to a goal yet. He was sent off in Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace, but it would appear Smith is keen on persisting with him.

That leaves the boss with a conundrum on the flanks and it remains to be seen whether the rotation will continue, or a settled duo will emerge.

Midfielders chomping at the bit

Henri Lansbury was wrongly denied a first Premier League goal for Aston Villa by referee Kevin Friend in Saturday’s loss.

His substitute performance in the game capped a great week for the former Forest man. He claimed two assists in the 6-1 win over Crewe and appears desperate to revive his career.

Smith has openly stated in the past that he is a big fan of Lansbury and the £40,000-a-week (Spotrac) player will be wanting to start.

Then there is Conor Hourihane. The Irishman has been used sparingly this season, mainly from the bench and he too will want a piece of the Premier League action.

The obstacle for the duo is that Villa’s two best players are in front of them. John McGinn and Jack Grealish are both top quality and ousting them could prove tricky.

If the poor form continues, however, a change in the system could help Lansbury or Hourihane. The ex-Forest man, in particular, can operate as a number 10 and that could be something worth looking at for Smith.