Aston Villa

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

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Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he is picking an England team, not individuals. He even stated: "We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else."

Jude Bellingham's superstar status meant Tuchel's selection was laced with risk, even though it was shaped by common sense as the midfielder had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.

He may have wanted to be included, but on this occasion Tuchel was happy to do without Bellingham, keeping faith with the players who produced the best result and performance of his reign by winning 5-0 against Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.

And, to add further credibility to Tuchel's decision-making process, England's outstanding player against Wales was Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, excelling in Bellingham's number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade.

Rogers, on the evidence of England's past two games, is fast becoming the poster boy for the new identity Tuchel wants to create.

And if Tuchel's measure is applied, the England shirt is now Rogers' to lose, with a further opportunity to cement his place against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.

In the Villa man, Tuchel is getting a symbol for the way he wants to progress.

The powerful 23-year-old set England on the way with his first international goal after only three minutes, a neat finish swept in from close range. He then helped set up the second for Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins eight minutes later.

Rogers also hit the bar in the second half before being substituted to a standing ovation after 69 minutes.

He played 24 passes, 19 successfully, creating two chances as well as scoring his goal.

Tuchel said: "Morgan is what he is. He is a number 10 and he is competing for his place. He is in a good way.

"We are ready for any team effort. We created a lot of chances. We could use Harry Kane all the time, but we need to play without Harry and Jude - the guys are injured."

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Aston Villa fans are waiting for an update on the fitness of Ollie Watkins after the striker was withdrawn at half-time in England's 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley on Thursday.

The 29-year-old scored the Three Lions' second goal but collided with the post late in the first half after missing a chance.

He hobbled away after receiving treatment and was replaced shortly after.

England boss Thomas Tuchel was reassuring on the incident in his post-match comments however, saying: "He is OK. It was a clear goal for him normally, but he crashed into the post.

"It was very painful, but as I understand it now, it is only painful. So, no harm done."

Watkins himself posted on Instagram, external simply writing "That felt good" in reference to his goal on his first England start in a year, without any mention of the injury.

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Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers says scoring his first England goal is "such a buzz".

The 23-year-old opened his Three Lions account with a tidy finish to set Thomas Tuchel's side on their was to a 3-0 friendly win over Wales at Wembley.

"It kind of just hit my foot and went in," Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live. "That feeling when it hit the back of the net was a lovely feeling.

"Probably took eight caps too long but it's nice to get one. Hopefully many more.

"Just making sure I get that goal, making sure I'm a threat in the box, making sure I'm a threat to the opposition in any way possible.

"It's difficult to sleep after games as it is but when you're on such a buzz and such a high it will be extra difficult.

"It's a nice feeling, a nice moment."

Last season's Premier League Young Player of the Year is yet to score for Villa so far this term, but has been trusted by Tuchel and featured in every game since the German took charge of England.

"When he came in I felt like it was a fresh slate for everyone," Rogers added.

"You see what he's won and his credentials, and he's come in here with his ideas and way of playing. To be able to fit into that and to be able to show my qualities within that is a nice feeling.

"It's an honour and privilege to be here and be in the squad, and I just want to maintain my performances here and also at club level.

"I want to make sure I'm playing games and I'm having an effect on the team."

Did you know?

• With Aston Villa pair Rogers and Ollie Watkins netting after three and 11 minutes, it was the earliest into a game two players from the same club side scored for England since October 1961, when Burnley's John Connelly and Ray Pointer had scored after nine minutes against Portugal.

• Rogers' opener inside three minutes was England's earliest goal since Luke Shaw scored in the second minute against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

• Rogers became the 34th different Aston Villa player to score for England - the joint-most different scorers from one club for the Three Lions along with Manchester United.

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Former Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton believes fans may have to be patient to see the best from Harvey Elliott, in the same way they had to with Youri Tielemans.

Elliott was substituted at half-time in his only Premier League start for Villa since his arrival from Liverpool and has struggled for minutes so far at his new club.

Tielemans - who played alongside Albrighton at Leicester - struggled initially after his move to Villa Park in 2023, with 15 of his 32 appearances in his first season coming from the bench.

"I'm a massive fan of Youri Tielemans," Albrighton told BBC Radio WM. "Seeing him up close and seeing how hard he works away from the training pitch as well as on it - he's a dedicated professional.

"He's crucial to that midfield. I remember when he arrived from Leicester and did struggle for the first few months and I chatted to a few Villa fans who said 'he's not good enough'.

"I just said 'give him time and he'll be one of the best players in the squad'. That has happened and he's a class act."

Elliott won the Premier League last season with Liverpool but only started twice in the Premier League. He moved to Villa in the search of more game time and his initial loan contains an obligation to buy.

"He was the signing I was most excited to see," Albrighton added. "He's still got bags of ability and can still come in and do a job.

"The most frustrating thing for him would have been seeing the players in front of him when they weren't performing or playing well and him still not getting a sniff.

"It's such a long season with Europe as well. There's going to be so many games and every player will get game time."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

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Aston Villa looked to be turning a corner in the run-up to the international break after an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, so naturally there will be questions around whether their momentum will suffer over the two-week break.

Unai Emery's side are currently unbeaten in five games, a run which has included four wins and one draw in all competitions. Our fan writer David Michael also said that the recent Premier League wins over Fulham and Burnley felt "reassuringly familiar".

Later this week, BBC Sport football reporter Nick Mashiter will be on hand to answer your burning questions.

So send them in below - what do you want to know about Aston Villa right now?

Ask your questions here

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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"Time," said Unai Emery, when asked what Harvey Elliott might need to push his way towards more playing time. "Give him minutes, and through that he will feel confident in our structure."

He said that in the short time between the defeat of Feyenoord, when Elliott appeared only for the curtain calls, and the win over Burnley, which the 22-year-old experienced solely from the bench.

When asked recently about some of Emery's earlier comments regarding his early weeks at Villa, Elliott said he "took no offence". Plenty of onlookers were ready to take offence on his behalf. But there are case studies in the current Villa squad to suggest that such worries are unfounded - or at the very least, premature.

The timing of Elliott's arrival may have added to the scrutiny. He came in on deadline day, but crucially just as Villa were enduring their first serious stumble since Emery took charge. Only a few weeks earlier, Elliott had been the outstanding figure in England Under-21s' successful Euros campaign. Given how cautiously Villa had acted during the transfer window, no wonder so many supporters invested their hopes for a sudden improvement in Elliott.

Instead, he has played only around a quarter of the available Premier League minutes, and none at all since half-time against Fulham on 28 September. "He needs to adapt in everything, but I changed him not because he was playing bad," said Emery, when asked to explain why Elliott had been withdrawn so early. "He has to continue working, preparing and adapting to us, understanding everything."

For validation of this comment, Elliott might consult Youri Tielemans. About two years ago, many of the same opinions were being expressed about him. Signed after his Leicester contract expired, he did not start a Premier League game for Villa until November 2023, and became a regular selection only the following spring.

Donyell Malen might tell a similar tale. Omitted from the Champions League squad after his arrival last January, his acclimatisation period has lasted even longer, but his goals against Burnley indicated that he is now fully established.

Elliott need not rush. This should be the final phase of his long apprenticeship at this level.

He is a proven Premier League player. Once he becomes a proven Emery player - which, as we have seen, takes time, whatever your reputation - more chances to play will surely follow. And being in the Europa League means there are likely to be enough games to keep everyone fully engaged.

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David Michael
Fan writer

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The two league games against Fulham and Burnley, sandwiching Aston Villa's Europa League trip to Feyenoord, felt reassuringly familiar - a return to the kind of football that's come to define Unai Emery's side over the past couple of seasons.

Bar the odd lapse, possession (the fifth-highest in the Premier League this season) was once again being translated into purposeful control, with chances beginning to flow again.

After a stuttering start, four straight wins have soothed most of the early-season jitters among supporters. Yet it was the performance in Rotterdam that perhaps instilled the most genuine confidence in what this team can achieve over the months ahead.

The Eredivisie leaders were arguably the most impressive side Villa have faced this season, and Emery's men rose to the challenge with a disciplined 2-0 win. Feyenoord - 100% at home in the league this season - had also beaten both Bayern Munich and AC Milan in last season's Champions League campaign.

Two of Villa's own Dutch contingent, Marco Bizot and Lamare Bogarde, particularly impressed.

Bizot, in a neat homage to Nigel Spink replacing Jimmy Rimmer after six minutes of Villa's 1982 European Cup final win in Rotterdam, was called from the bench after Emi Martinez pulled up in the warm-up - and responded with an outstanding display.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Rotterdam-born Bogarde shed the tag of 'useful utility player' to emerge as a cool-headed, smart, slick-passing midfielder that Emery may now struggle to leave out of his first XI.

While Villa's squad depth should keep them competitive across all competitions this season, the likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers are still searching for full sharpness, raising a question: just how high is this team's ceiling?

The answer should begin to reveal itself after the international break, when Villa face four of the current top five in consecutive league games.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Burnley.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Chris: Great to see Donyell Malen and Ollie Watkins working together and goals coming now, still a bit wobbly and fragile towards the end. But heading up in the table and confidence returning to team and a couple of the players.

Tony: Clearly Malen was the star and overall a good result, but we're still nowhere near as fluid or balanced as last season and we've yet to be tested by a top side. Heading in the right direction and cautiously optimistic about the future - unlike two weeks ago!

Mossy: Much improved, but let Burnley back in with very poor concentration on their goal. Much harder tests await next with Spurs, Man City and Liverpool. They will really show us where we are. Don't understand why Harvey Elliot isn't getting a look in, not even off the bench. Really don't want to waste his time. Great finishing from Malen but just wish Rogers could get a goal or two for his confidence. UTV!

Andrew: Three wins in seven days. Not a bad effort for a team still getting up to speed. Malen looked very useful.

Burnley fans

Terry: Two good strikes from Villa - apart from that not much else. Need to sort out the defence which was our strength last year. Burnley need more bite up front.

Anthony: I'm not convinced this Burnley team has enough to stay up. We're competitive in most games but don't have the firepower to kill teams off. Have we a striker that can score 10-15? Nope. Martin Dubravka has been one of our best player so far this season - that says it all for me.

Graham: Competetent but uninspiring. Burnley started quite aggressively but plateaued after the first Villa goal and showed little threat until too late. We displayed our long-standing weakness - no great forward threat, and, after Jaidon Anthony went off, the little threat we showed reduced until the final 20 minutes. Armando Broja was brought in to solve the problem but shows little to inspire. His one chance, though offside, was completely missed. Hannibal, though at times frenetic, does bring some much needed urgency and drive but he remained an unused substitute.

Pundits Joe Hart and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

• Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest

• Wolves 1-1 Brighton

• Brentford 0-1 Man City

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports after their victory over Burnley: "I saw Emi Buendia and he is recovering. Hopefully it is not more but he is still getting better.

"Here in Villa Park we have to make it a fortress, we have to compete and we are finishing before the international break in good balance. We are feeling more comfortable than we were. I am really happy how the players have responded with our demands.

Squad options: "We recover [from injury] Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana. Lamare Bogarde is playing fantastic, he is adapting to our demands. Hopefully we can keep getting better and adding more players. We have other players to help us. Today, very grateful to the supporters and now we are going to rest for two weeks. We will be motivated and excited for the rest of the season."

On Donyell Malen: "We settled him a little bit with some technical balance. He was close to score and he scored, fantastic."

Did you know?

• Aston Villa remain unbeaten in each of their last 30 Premier League home games when scoring first (W26 D4), with Liverpool (105) and Manchester United (42) the only current top-flight sides on a longer run.

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Unai Emery cut a disconsolate figure after watching his Aston Villa side labour to a 1-1 draw at newly promoted Sunderland on 21 September, even describing aspects of his team's performance at the Stadium of Light as "lazy".

Fast forward two weeks, however, and last season's Champions League quarter-finalists appear to be rediscovering their groove, although there is still ample room for improvement.

While the early stages of Sunday's game were not exactly one-sided, the hosts created by far the better chances and could have taken the lead before Donyell Malen's 25th-minute effort.

Ollie Watkins should have turned home Malen's flick inside the six-yard box, while Ezri Konsa had a free header parried behind by Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Morgan Rogers, who looked much sharper than in recent weeks, also had a curling effort deflected wide by veteran full-back Kyle Walker, before Malen settled Villa nerves midway through the half with a fine finish.

The former Borussia Dortmund man has struggled in front of goal since netting in three successive league games back in April, but the double will do his and Villa's confidence no end of good as Emery's side look to put their early season woes behind them.

The Spaniard, though, will be frustrated with the manner of Burnley's late goal, with Ugochukwu left completely unmarked and unchallenged to nod home Quilindschy Hartman's corner.

That set up a nervous final few minutes for the home side, but the visitors were unable to complete the fightback and needed Dubravka to make a wonderful save just before the end to keep out Lucas Digne's rasping strike.

The game ended on a sour note for Villa, however, as Emi Buendia was forced off with a head injury after being caught by Burnley substitute Zian Flemming.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Villa's performance

What did you make of Burnley's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

There are five games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Newcastle v Nottingham Forest - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3

• Aston Villa v Burnley - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (after Singapore Grand Prix)

• Brentford v Man City (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, Kamara, Malen, Rogers, McGinn, Watkins

Burnley XI: Dubravka, Walker, Laurent, Tuanzebe, Esteve, Hartman, Tchaouna, Cullen, Florentino, Anthony, Foster

Aston Villa took a while to get going against Fulham but it was great movement by Ollie Watkins for his goal, and he needed that.

That was their first league win of the season, but I am not convinced Unai Emery's side will kick on from there. They beat Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday and their squad is going to be stretched.

The more I think about it, the more I quite fancy Burnley for a draw here.

To lose 5-1 last week was harsh on them, and they had frustrated Manchester City for a long time, the same as they did when they were beaten by Liverpool, and that is likely to be their gameplan here too.

My heart says Villa will win because of my time there - I almost reached double figures in appearances - but my head says Burnley, and this time, I am going to listen.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

The original team in claret and blue host a side with whom they have more than club colours in common so far this season. BBC Sport delves into the issues facing both teams before Sunday's meeting.

While promoted Burnley's place in the bottom three is no great surprise and can be mitigated by the fact their four defeats have all come against heavyweight opponents with vast resources, Aston Villa's slow start was not widely predicted.

Data analysts Opta calculated that Villa had the easiest opening five fixtures in the division - yet their first win didn't come until the sixth attempt, at home to an obliging Fulham last Sunday. An improved performance in that game, sandwiched between Europa League victories against Bologna and Feyenoord, suggests Villa are starting to snap out of their torpor.

Nonetheless, their attacking shortcomings are clear. Burnley copied Villa's club colours in 1910 and are mirroring the same issues as the Birmingham side on the pitch so far this season.

These are the two sides with the lowest expected goals (xG) tallies in the Premier League this season. Burnley's xG, a measure of how many goals a team is expected to score based on the quality of their chances, is 4.53. They have actually outperformed that, scoring six goals, but have had the joint fewest shots and shots on target in the division.

Villa have underperformed their xG by near-enough one goal in the league. More tellingly, they have only had a single shot which had more than a 50% probability of ending in the back of the net. It is not just Villa's forwards to blame either - their strangely passive build-up play in many games means they take 63.2 touches between shots on average, more than any other side.

Burnley manager Scott Parker admitted "our egos are dented" as a result of last weekend's 5-1 defeat by Manchester City, though he was "immensely proud" of his side's performance until the hour mark, when they were still level.

Nonetheless, the Clarets have lost all three away games this season, conceding 11 goals. They only let in eight goals in 23 Championship away fixtures in 2024-25.

Earning their first away points on Sunday will be a huge challenge, notwithstanding Villa's fragile confidence. Unai Emery's side have only lost once at home in the Premier League since the start of September last year – a record only Liverpool can match - and have the fourth highest points tally at home during that period.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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"Aston Villa teaches a lesson in effectiveness," is the headline in the Rotterdam newspaper AD today, summing up a night with rhymes of history under the old-style floodlights of De Kuip.

Villa suffered in the first half, as they did on their most famous visit here. "They were creating more chances," said Unai Emery. "We needed defence, and we weren't defending compact, the distance between the players was not like I expected. We spoke in the dressing room to correct a little bit tactically, and the second half we did better."

Some callers to BBC Radio WM after the match said this is just what you should expect away from home in Europe, and therefore Villa handled it impressively.

There's something to that, although it still feels that Villa are yet to find their fluent best of recent seasons for a full game. At least now they're winning while they're working towards it.

Two unexpected questions arose from last night, however. Emi Buendia, loaned out in the second half of last season, seemed at that point surplus to future requirements. After his educated finish last night, is he now back in Villa's front rank?

And have we reached a point where the automatic selection of Emi Martinez, for so long undisputed, is at all in question? Called on at short notice again, Marco Bizot stepped in and stood out.

Emery was effusive in his praise: "We signed him with a clear role for him, and he's a fantastic guy, professional, responsible, mature and he's progressively getting better, because he's getting confidence and he's playing minutes. He's a fantastic professional and we need players like him."

Some things, though, are beyond question. In the summer there were murmurs of interest from elsewhere in John McGinn, with a few suggestions that he could be one of the players moved on to allow scope for fresh faces. Now, he has scored three goals in a week, and last night's performance was Greatest Hits McGinn: constantly on patrol in midfield, plugging holes, and riding shotgun to Donyell Malen in the move that sealed the match.

"He's unsellable," as one impassioned WM caller put it last night. "He's not just a player, he's Mr Aston Villa. He can have a contract when he's 40 as far as I'm concerned, just to stay there."

Few in Rotterdam last night would have disagreed with that.

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We asked for your thoughts after Thursday's Europa League game between Aston Villa and Feyenoord.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: That's more like the Villa of old. When Emi Martinez pulled out after the warm-up I was worried and we were lucky not to go into the break one or two goals down. The defence and Marco Bizot were excellent and like at Fulham we were excellent second half. UTV. Keep up the hard work.

James: We rode our luck at times but our build-up play was starting to get back to the level we've come to expect. John McGinn is talismanic! Three goals in three consecutive games. Our captain delivers again!

Ian: Great all-around performance, but better finishing by Feyenoord result could have been different - especially in the first-half. Playing the ball out all the time will eventually catch Villa out!

Rob: We should have been 1-0 down at half time. However, McGinn is turning out prime Gerrard performances (the player version not the manager), Emi Buendia is finally over his serious injury and Boubacar Kamara is just marvellous. He is taking the heat off Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, who are yet to get fully firing this year. Special shout out to Lamare Bogarde who has some brilliant stats this year.

Emma: Job done. Bizot made some good saves and captain fantastic did it again. I think we're starting to find form. Onwards and upwards. UTV.

Paul: Again not perfect, but another massive stride forward which will bring tremendous confidence. Bizot was excellent and Konsa, Torres, Kamara and McGinn also great. We played the ball much better through a high press and were positive in attack. An away win against a strong team, you can't ask for more. Well done, UTV!

Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the upcoming international break.

The Three Lions face Wales in a friendly on 9 October, before a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on 14 October.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is absent after suffering an injury, while there is no place for Manchester City's Phil Foden or Jack Grealish, who is on loan at Everton from City.

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery spoke to TNT Sports after his side's 2-0 victory over Feyenoord in the Europa League on Thursday: "My expectation was more or less tough like the match was. We were ready to compete. The test we had today was a fantastic test. They had chances in the first half, their goalkeeper was fantastic. Second half we changed a little bit and dominated more.

"We were getting confidence and it was a fantastic win. I am so proud of how the players responded on the field."

On late goalkeeper change: "We had to be ready. We are trying to work tactically, individually and try to focus everyone. The goalkeeper [Marco Bizot] was fantastic, he is a very good guy and goalkeeper and he is accepting his role.

"When we had six players out like we did today, the other players responded fantastically. It was fantastic how the goalkeeper replaced Emi Martinez."

On Emi Buendia: "He knows how we are building the team and how we are building tactically. His position is clear. He has capacity to assist and score goals."

On John McGinn: "His challenge as captain as well is something more than tactically and individually. He is playing with a lot of emotions. He responded in a difficult moment.

"He is a player who is very important in the dressing room and he is always happy and always smiling, when we need more than tactical and individual performances, he is always trying to get positive energy."

Hear more from Emery on BBC Sounds