‘Outstanding’ Aston Villa star is now even more important to Unai Emery after latest injury blow

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The depth of Aston Villa’s squad will be tested throughout a gruelling campaign, and now one player is more important than ever for Unai Emery.

For Aston Villa, the international break came at a perfect time as injuries are starting to pile up in Unai Emery’s squad.

In Sunday’s drab goalless draw against Manchester United, Emery was without some of his key first-team players, including Amadou Onana, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and long-term absentees Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings.

The injury situation then worsened for Villa in the match as versatile defender Ezri Konsa was substituted for Diego Carlos in the 12th minute, with Konsa since withdrawing from Lee Carsley’s England squad as a result.

While that means there’s no risk of the Englishman aggravating that injury, giving him time to rest and recover, it also increases the importance of one player in particular.

• READ MORE: Aston Villa goalkeeper ‘unable to join’ international team alongside Ezri Konsa

Matty Cash needs to step up for Aston Villa

Matty Cash made his first appearance since returning from injury in the draw against Man United and Cash was compared to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk after one important intervention.

The Poland international is Villa’s main starting right back but during his absence, Konsa was one of three players who slotted in there, with Kosta Nedeljkovic and Lamare Bogarde the other two.

Emery is perhaps lucky that Cash returned when he did, otherwise, one of Bogarde or Nedeljkovic would have replaced Konsa on Sunday.

Cash has previously been criticised by Villa supporters for his clumsiness defensively and switching off in the crucial moments however, now that he’s returned to the starting XI, he must set an example as one of the senior players in the squad.

Everyone knows how ‘outstanding’ the former Nottingham Forest man is going forward but there remain some reservations defensively.

Therefore, if Konsa isn’t fit for the trip to Fulham after the international break, Cash becomes even more important for Aston Villa.

• READ MORE: Matty Cash has a 10-word message for Aston Villa fans after making return from injury vs Man Utd

Cash can make Aston Villa forget about not signing a right-back

At points in the summer, it looked as though Villa’s right-back could have moved on, with Cash attracting interest from Serie A giants AC Milan.

This prompted Emery to look for a new right-sided defender as a move for Lutsharel Geertruida fell through on deadline day.

Not signing a new versatile defender, who can play as a centre-back or right-back, has left Villa in a bit of a precarious situation at the back.

However, with Cash performing at his best and Mings’ return imminent, the Villans could quickly forget about how their woes in the transfer window.