Aston Villa captain John McGinn has shared an encouraging verdict on the progression of Tim Iroegbunam, as Unai Emery considers his squad options for the remainder of the season.
Aston Villa have experienced a mammoth amount of injuries this season, leaving Unai Emery having to test his adaptability time after time.
Sitting firmly in fourth place, it’s imperative that the Villans build on the form they have recently built if they are to claim a Champions League spot amid their injury struggles.
Despite finding form, three ACL injuries, as well as less severe blows, have stretched Villa’s resources of late, with few absences as concerning as Boubacar Kamara’s season-ending injury sustained earlier this month.
In the Frenchman’s absence, club captain John McGinn has dropped into midfield in the attempt to cover for his teammate although, the Scotsman has opened up about other potential candidates that could fit the role.
John McGinn issues strong claim on the stance of Tim Iroegbunam
Speaking to the Villa News & Record, relayed by BirminghamLive, McGinn shared that Tim Iroegbunam is ‘close’ to being in contention in midfield ahead of Villa’s clash with Luton Town.
“Big Tim is knocking at the door and pushing. He’s very close to being in there.”
“There are several of us in the team who are quite versatile. Some people have a preference, but I really don’t care what position I play. I just try and help the team.”
When the news of Kamara’s injury broke, many pointed at Iroegbunam to be one of the candidates to replace the 24-year-old.
The midfielder has impressed in Villa’s academy after making the switch from West Brom back in 2021, with his loan spell last term at QPR really bringing his talents to light.
With fixtures set to come frequently as the Villans prepare to return to action in the Europa Conference League, the academy hopeful could come to great use to the manager with rotation expected to be required.
Aston Villa team news ahead of Luton Town visit
Although Villa have found form with two consecutive wins, the squad has done it with many rotations to the starting XI.
As touched upon, McGinn has dropped into midfield, while there have been remarkable defensive switches to accommodate the absences of Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Diego Carlos.
Against Luton, the midfield will be the focal point to where the game could be won or lost, with the Hatters’ best assets coming in the engine room.
Following on from McGinn’s claims on Iroegbunam, it will be interesting to see if Emery uses his resources to rotate against Luton, in a switch that could be a huge chance for the youngster to show his worth.
