This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Aston Villa are enjoying the month of October as they currently occupy 12th in the Premier League.
The thrashing of Norwich City kickstarted a recent upturn in form before the international break.
Dean Smith’s men put in five against the injury-stricken Canaries, and since then, they have backed it up with a late victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Villa skipper Jack Grealish played like a man possessed as he scored the equaliser before slotting in left-back Matt Targett to bag the winner in the 94th minute.
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The whole team has played their part from John McGinn’s industrious ability in the centre of the pitch to Frederic Guilbert’s emergence at right-back.
Even club-record signing Wesley has notched a couple more goals to add to his tally.
If the west Midlands club can keep this up, then they will surely keep hold of their place in the promised land for the foreseeable future.
But that could spell bad things for one of Villa’s contracted players in James Bree, who is currently enjoying a loan spell at Luton Town in the Championship.
Aston Villa’s summer signings’ performances so far this season are rated in the video below…
Given how well Guilbert has performed at right-back, it would take some sort of significant injury to knock him off that starting spot.
He’s already snatched it from playoff hero Ahmed Elmohamady, so it’s hugely unlikely that the 22-year-old will be able to do the same upon his return.
The Frenchman currently ranks third in the Premier League for interceptions with an average of 2.9 per game.
In addition, Smith clearly still holds the man he’s replaced in high regard too as Elmohamady extended his stay at Villa Park by a further year back in August.
The club have also been linked to Norway right-back Omar Elabdellaoui, whether those reports are accurate or not remains to be seen, but such a move would almost certainly put an end to Bree’s career in the west Midlands.
That’s if it hasn’t already as the £900k-rated man has made just 28 appearances since joining the club in January 2017 under Steve Bruce, per Transfermarkt.
Unfortunately for Bree, a chance of getting in the side in the future seems incredibly remote.
