Aston Villa fans may well be focused on the summer transfer window, but for the players, pre-season isn’t too far away already.
After an outstanding season in which they finished in the top four and secured a spot in the Champions League, Unai Emery’s team will be keen to get ready for the start of the Premier League season.
An update regarding Emi Buendia’s fitness surfaced this summer, giving Emery an early preseason lift as the Villans attempt to build on that triumph the following season.
The Argentine winger has accelerated his recuperation ahead of the start of preseason at a football campus in Portugal, according to Birmingham Live (July 1), where he is joined by fellow Villan Jacob Ramsey.
To get ready for the start of preseason, Villa’s coach Alberto Carbo Benaveny and senior rehab physiotherapist John Whitney have joined the pair.
Will Emi Buendia be fit to return to Aston Villa action ahead of pre-season?
Since May 2023, when Emery started Buendia in the starting lineup for Villa Park’s Premier League victory against Tottenham Hotspur, the player has not started a competitive match for Villa.
According to Fotmob, the 27-year-old played 68 minutes in that match and looked impressive at the top of the pitch alongside Ollie Watkins, completing 70% of his passes and hitting the woodwork with one of his two efforts.
The Argentine gave an equally strong performance the night before, as Villa lost 1-0 against Wolves.
Even though Buendia only completed 69% of his 26 passes that he attempted, he was still able to set up two goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates by placing both of his passes within the final third of the field.
Furthermore, the attacking midfielder was unlucky not to score himself despite producing an xG of 0.38 and having Jose Sa save a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty box.
The former Norwich player was a continuous nuisance for Wolves despite the dismal outcome, recording 14 touches in the penalty area and completing all four of his attempted dribbles.
When the ball was not in possession, Buendia put in just as much effort, winning three tackles, 78% of the nine ground duels he tried, and winning all but one of his aerial battles.
According to Fbref, the 27-year-old is in the top 16 percent of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for progressive passes per ninety minutes in the 2022–2023 season.
Only 13% of his positional counterparts played more balls into the final third each game, thus Villa and Emery may benefit greatly from this attacking drive in the upcoming campaign.
As he is in the 84th percentile for through balls played each game, Buendia will probably also aid to keep Ollie Watkins performing at his peak. His reappearance might be crucial.
Even though Villa Park’s preseason hasn’t quite begun and most supporters will be clamoring for new players, Buenida’s return to the team will provide Emery a much-needed early advantage this summer.
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