Some Aston Villa fans are demanding Dean Smith starts Kortney Hause against Manchester United, as the Villans boss weighs up changing his system with Axel Tuanzebe unavailable.
Smith will be without Tuanzebe at Old Trafford on Saturday with the centre-back ineligible to face his parent club. The 23-year-old joined Villa on loan from the Red Devils on August 8 and has featured prominently in recent weeks.
Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa started the season as Smith’s first-choice centre-back pairing. But a cracked rib forced Mings to miss last month’s 1-1 draw with Brentford and opened a door for Tuanzebe to feature. He has not missed a second of action since entering the side.
Smith changed Aston Villa’s defence to a three-man centre-half grouping of Mings, Konsa and Tuanzebe after the international break. The unit lost 3-0 at Chelsea earlier this month, but responded well to help to a 3-0 win over Everton.
The change to a five-man defence with Matty Cash operating as a right-wing-back worked wonders against the Toffees. Cash impressed from the position as he charged forward and scored his first Villans goal. But was still available to offer a vital defensive presence.
Smith considering defensive changes
However, with Tuanzebe unavailable on Saturday, Smith is considering changing Aston Villa back to a four-man defence at Manchester United. Villa reverted to a two-man central pair as they lost on penalties against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
“He’s a fantastic player and that’s why we wanted him; he has an unbelievable attitude,” Smith said of Tuanzebe, via the Aston Villa Twitter feed. “He will be a big loss, so we have to decide if we go to a back-four or stick with a five.”
Sticking with a four-man defence at Manchester United could see Hause miss out to Mings and Konsa in Smith’s plans. The £8k-a-week centre-back has only played one minute in the Premier League this season as a late substitute against Brentford.
Villa fans demand Hause starts
But while Smith is considering going four-at-the-back without Tuanzebe, some Aston Villa fans are demanding Hause starts against Manchester United. That’s because they believe a three-man central pairing would be their best option to take a result at Old Trafford.
Hause started the final three games of the Premier League season last term beside Konsa or Mings. His partnership with the latter of the two returning wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to end the campaign.
So, here are some of the messages Villa fans have shared in response to Smith weighing up a change of system against Manchester United with Tuanzebe ineligible to feature…
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