Aston Villa have made a flying start to the new season.
Unai Emery will be pleased with the team’s efforts and comeback abilities in the Premier League, as well as being delighted at how they have begun their Champions League campaign.
But there are still a few issues to deal with, including who starts in his best XI when everyone is fit as a few familiar faces are set to return in these coming weeks.
Boubacar Kamara is back in Aston Villa training after his season-ending injury in February, whilst right-back Matty Cash is hoping to be fit for the Bayern Munich clash.
During the comeback win over Wolves at the weekend, Emery made one tactical change and that was to bring Diego Carlos in at centre-back and push Ezri Konsa to right-back.
It didn’t help matters when Carlos was gifting the ball back to the opposition on the edge of his own box and watching Matheus Cunha fire home the opening goal.
That’s a pretty bad habit Carlos has in his locker, he nearly did the same when coming off the bench in the Champions League in midweek and made several errors leading to goals last season.
That’s why he has been sat on the bench during the early stages of the season and was saved by his teammates coming off the bench against Wolves.
One of them included Ross Barkley, who is yet to start a match, but has been an unsung hero for Villa and now Emery has a big call to make.
Should Ross Barkley and Diego Carlos be starting for Aston Villa?
In the long term, Emery has to ask himself if he trusts Carlos to start in the long-term, especially with huge Champions League games coming up.
If he does, then it means Konsa moving to right-back when he is the best defender and most consistent performer at the club.
The best option would be to keep Carlos on the bench and start either Cash or Lamare Bogarde at right-back – remember Tyrone Mings is also back in Villa training.
Then there is the Barkley conundrum. He has been too good this season for him to only be coming off the bench now.
John McGinn’s injury helps him because Barkley will start instead of the Scotsman.
But when the Villa skipper returns, along with Kamara, that midfield is going to be packed and Barkley would be unfortunate to lose his place.
Aston Villa’s League Cup clash against Wycombe
This fixture has come at the right time for Emery because it allows him to ring the changes ahead of a very important week.
You suspect the key players from Pau Torres to Youri Tielemans will be completely rested for the trip to Wycombe.
READ MORE: Aston Villa expert says Unai Emery should be ‘worried’ after Wolves win in ‘vulnerable’ verdict
But the likes of Barkley and Ian Maatsen will earn much-deserved starts where they can further prove why they should be starting in Emery’s XI.
All in all, the bench strength is pretty incredible and this is another chance to increase that quality even further.
