Unai Emery’s “experience” is what kept striker Jhon Duran at Aston Villa and has helped him to perform this season, says former Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger.
Duran has scored six goals in 10 games so far this campaign, with five of those goals coming in his nine substitute appearances.
With Ollie Watkins the regular starter up front, it was questioned whether Duran would stay at Villa in the summer but the Colombia international has since signed a new contract with the club.
“The fact that Emery can do various things with his squad is really impressive,” Hitzlsperger told the Planet Premier League podcast.
“It does work for Duran coming off the bench. Duran was about to leave in the summer and most managers would just say ‘I’m not interested in you any more, you don’t want to be part of this team – go’. Then they would tell the owners to find a new club for him.
“But Emery managed to put his arm around Duran and said ‘you have got quality, we need you, you can help this team’ and he has delivered sooner than expected.
“That is so brilliant and that is when the experience of Unai Emery comes in and says ‘I have got a spot for you, just be patient’ and it all pays off.
“That recipe with Ollie Watkins starting and Duran coming on, why would you change it if it works?”
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds