Lucas Digne has finally been rewarded for his performances in Aston Villa colours.
The 31-year-old has been Aston Villa‘s starting left-back since the start of the last campaign after he lost his place to Alex Moreno when he initially joined during the January transfer window of 2023.
Digne helped guide Villa into the Champions League and France boss Didier Deschamps has recalled him after over two years on the sidelines.
It was a late call for Digne because he wasn’t in the initial squad, but then an injury to Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy opened the door for him.
This is very much deserved because Unai Emery has helped bring out the consistency in Digne’s game and it has led him down this path.
Given his age and the fact that it had been so long since he had played for his country, then it wouldn’t have been a surprise if he had given up hope of donning those colours again.
But now Digne will prepare for some very important UEFA Nation League fixtures, starting on Friday when France take on Euro 2020 winners Italy.
The Villa man will then come up against two familiar faces – Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans – when his side take on Belgium on home soil.
Nonetheless, this is what Digne wrote on Instagram after his recall, as he posted an image of him taking pictures with supporters.
Lucas Digne returns to France’s squad
‘It’s back to school’, wrote Digne.
Ian Maatsen competiton
Aston Villa signed Ian Maatsen from Chelsea this summer and he came in to provide some serious competition to that left-back spot.
It resulted in Alex Moreno joining Nottingham Forest on a loan deal, with Digne starting every Premier League game so far this season.
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After the international break, the games will come in thick and fast, including the Champions League matches and that’s where Maatsen comes into his own because he helped Borussia Dortmund to the final last season.
But the player himself will feel a little annoyed because, whilst Digne earns a recall to the France squad, Maatsen wasn’t picked by Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, and instead, will play for the U21s.
