Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic
Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will weigh up the possibility of sending Kosta Nedeljkovic out on loan in January.
The right-back featured off the bench in Villa's first three Premier League's games against West Ham, Arsenal and Leicester City, but wasn't included in six of the last seven matchday squads.
Nedeljkovic started both Carabao Cup games against Wycombe Wanderers, before coming on for 10 minutes at the end of Villa's Champions League match with Club Brugge last month. Lamare Bogarde started ahead of the 18-year-old for the matches against Leicester, Everton and BSC Young Boys while Matty Cash was injured.
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Asked if Nedeljkovic could leave on loan in January, Emery said: "Maybe. We are in December and there are 20 days more or less to get to January. But of course we are going to make the best decision for the team and for him as well and for his process. Now the decision is not done."
Ahead of Villa's Premier League clash with Southampton on Saturday, Emery admitted that some of his players are still adapting to his tactical demands.
"I want players knowing tactically and performing tactically and individually, with their quality, always getting the level we want," Emery said. "I have to use two players for each position, trying to compete and trying to be ready to play.
"Some players aren’t consistent in the XI or are even playing minutes, maybe like Kosta Nedeljkovic and Emi Buendia. Buendia is playing minutes, but he has to show that progressively he is getting better.
"Kosta is a young player - he played some matches at the beginning of the season, but there is still work to do and adaptation for everything to have. In the Premier League, the tactical idea to manage as well and playing with confidence. This is the way he has to do and this is a process we are doing."
Serbia international Nedeljkovic signed for Villa from Red Star Belgrade in January in a deal worth £6.5million plus add-ons.
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