Dean Smith makes surprise claim about Ezri Konsa at Aston Villa

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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has suggested that Ezri Konsa could be utilised as a right-back this season.

Dean Smith has suggested to the Birmingham Mail that Ezri Konsa could be a right-back option for Aston Villa in future.

Konsa was brought to Villa from Brentford over the summer, and was widely expected to give Smith some increased centre-back cover.

But Smith is not just considered Konsa to be a central defender upon his move to Villa.

Instead, the claret and blues boss insists that the England youth international is capable of playing as a full-back.

“There’s only 18 players I can choose. Ezri Konsa was on the bench and Ezri has played a number of games [at right-back] who could go there if one of our full-backs got tired,” Smith said.

Whether Konsa will get much game time at right-back for Villa is up for debate.

Villa brought in Frederic Guilbert over the summer, while Ahmed Elmohamady started their first game against Tottenham Hotspur.

Konsa also appears to face a fight to win a place in Villa’s side in his favoured position of centre-back.

Bjorn Engels and Tyrone Mings were preferred to Konsa on the opening day, and the pair impressed despite Villa’s 3-1 defeat in the contest.

Smith’s side are next in action against Bournemouth on Saturday at Villa Park.