Harvey Elliott was left out of the Aston Villa matchday squad entirely against Man City as he continues to struggle for game-time since leaving Liverpool on loan
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton and Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium
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Unai Emery has explained his decision to leave Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott out of his matchday squad for Aston Villa’s victory over Man City on Sunday. Matty Cash scored the only goal for the Villans as they inflicted a surprise defeat on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Elliott has struggled for game-time since moving to Villa Park on loan on transfer deadline day, and had been left as an unused substitute for Villa’s last three clashes against Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Go Ahead Eagles.
But it still raised eyebrows to see the 22-year-old left out of Emery’s matchday squad entirely, as Tyrone Mings instead took his place on the bench after returning from injury.
With Aston Villa’s next match coming away at Liverpool next weekend, Elliott will find himself unused once again with the midfielder ineligible to face his parent club due to the regulations regarding Premier League loan transfers.
After beating Man City, Emery explained the decision as he revealed what he had told Elliott after informing the midfielder he would be left out of the squad.
But defending his choice, the Spaniard reiterated previous comments that the Reds loanee had not been playing well enough to feature for Villa.
"I explained it two days ago in the press conference," Emery said. "He is training well, and he played some matches, but the performances were not what we needed.
"Some players are playing as a No.10, and they are playing well, like Buendia and Rogers, also Ross Barkley after he was out.
"In the squad today we needed to take one player out, and I decided for him. I am happy with him.
"He is training good. His commitment is fantastic and he is a good guy. Only tactical decision.
"I spoke with him about it. My advice was to keep going, and training and when it is his opportunity, to play well.
"He is a very good player. Our demands are in the high level. Some players, they performed in the same position last year and this year. He needs time to work and wait for his moment."
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Elliott has made five appearances for Villa to date, totalling just 167 minutes of action. Starting just twice, he scored on his full debut in the League Cup against Brentford but was withdrawn at half-time when handed his first Premier League start for the club against Fulham at the end of September.
A four-minute substitute appearance away at Feyenoord has been the limit of his game-time in October, with home clashes against Maccabi Tel Aviv and AFC Bournemouth now offering his only further opportunities for game-time ahead of the November international break.
Elliott’s loan move to Villa included a £35m obligation to buy clause, with ECHO sister site Birmingham Live, reporting the deal will be made permanent once he makes 10 appearances for the club.