Alejandro Garnacho has been restricted to just 31 minutes of Premier League football since joining Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho could be handed his first start for Aston Villa
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Alejandro Garnacho will be pushing hard for a starting spot in the Carabao Cup when Aston Villa travel to Coventry City. The winger joined on loan from Chelsea with a conditional obligation to buy - a clause understood to hinge on his appearance count.
So far, though, he has logged only 31 Premier League minutes across three cameo appearances, with teenager George Hemmings keeping him out of Unai Emery's XI. Even so, Emery has been clear that he's encouraged by the Argentine's progress since arriving at Villa Park.
"Every training session we are doing, he is showing he can play matches," Emery said. "He played a few minutes, but it was not enough, firstly due to the minutes he played and the things he showed.
"Progressively, I am seeing him better. The most important thing is being consistent and demanding through the attitude he has. Then, I believe and I trust that he will achieve his best performance progressively."
Despite the encouraging noises from his manager, the 22-year-old remains very much a work in progress. A facial injury sustained during pre-season disrupted his preparations and was a contributing factor in his absence from the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in August.
With Emery widely anticipated to ring the changes, Garnacho could at last be handed his first start of the campaign - though he is acutely aware that failing to grasp the opportunity would make a place in the starting XI against Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend look highly unlikely.
While Garnacho may still require further time to adjust to Emery's exacting approach, Villa captain John McGinn has cautioned that patience is vital.
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"It's a demanding style and very unique system," said McGinn. "A lot of work in the classroom. It does take time..
"It's not just a case of your normal 4-4-2 or your normal 4-2-3-1. It's the detail but it's different.
"It's like me going to play international football – it's a different kind of football. You just need to adapt and hopefully over time we start to grow. ".
The winger only arrived at Chelsea last summer from Manchester United in a £40m transfer, but departed on loan less than 12 months later after failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.
He drew criticism for underwhelming attacking returns and defensive lapses as Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and failed to qualify for European football.
United included a 10% sell-on clause in his transfer to west London, which would come into effect should he complete a permanent move to Villa Park.
Chelsea sources, meanwhile, maintain the conditions to activate the £43m obligation are 'easily achievable'.