It has been a calm end to a frantic summer for Aston Villa, with no arrivals on a quiet Transfer Deadline Day.
Unai Emery and Monchi did the majority of their Aston Villa squad building early in the summer, with seven players brought into Villa Park this transfer window.
In an ideal world, Emery would have liked to see a right-sided defender and a Moussa Diaby replacement signed, but the pursuit of versatile Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertuida proved unsuccessful and the fact Jhon Duran has stayed put helps fill the Diaby void.
With nothing significant happening on Deadline Day to distract Emery, the Villa boss could instead give Saturday’s Premier League match against Leicester City his full attention.
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Kosta Nedeljkovic expected to be handed first Aston Villa start against Leicester City
In the two league games so far this season, Emery has named an unchanged starting XI.
However, we already know this will not be the case against Leicester as Matty Cash will be sidelined with the injury that saw him come off in the 15th-minute of the 2-0 defeat against Arsenal.
18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic was the player chosen to replace Cash on that day, but Emery had a decision to make ahead of Leicester as he could have brought Diego Carlos into the side and shifted Ezri Konsa to right-back.
That is no longer an option, though, ensuring that Nedeljkovic will make his first start as a Villa player at the King Power.
That is because of an injury to Carlos meaning the Brazilian will miss out, as journalist Matt Maher confirmed on X: “Diego Carlos will miss tomorrow’s match at Leicester through injury, meaning 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic is poised for his full Aston Villa debut.”
Nedeljkovic ready to take starting chance against Leicester
Last weekend’s defeat against Arsenal was a really tough game for Nedeljkovic to come into but he handled himself well.
Against Leicester, the Serbian right-back should have the opportunity to get forward far more regularly.
This should be to the benefit of Villa, as journalist John Townley was left impressed by Nedeljkovic’s attacking attributes after a 3-2 pre-season friendly win over Athletic Bilbao.
Townley posted on X: “Kosta Nedeljkovic’s physical profile at 18 years of age is incredible. He makes things happen and has the ability to take players out of the game with his pace alone.
“An exciting prospect sure to be making an impression on Unai Emery. Looks like a great find from Villa.”
If Nedeljkovic can take his chance, then Cash may just find himself on the bench when he does make his return from injury.
