OPINION
Aston Villa have not had the most encouraging of starts to the Championship season and one of their worst performers has without doubt been goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
The 28-year-old was signed in the summer by Steve Bruce and has instantly become the Villa manager’s number one choice between the sticks. However the Norway international has managed to keep just one clean sheet in seven appearances for the club, conceding 11 goals in the process.
If Nyland wants to save his Aston Villa career before it’s really even started, then he needs to pick up his performances as soon as possible because Bruce does have other options to play in goals.
Nothing has really suggested that back-up shot-stoppers Andre Moreira and Mark Bunn are worse than Nyland, and Bruce could soon pull the trigger on his number one goalie and call on one of the reserves.
Nyland did keep a clean sheet against Rotherham earlier this week, but with no disrespect, that was Rotherham, and Villa were never really going to be threatened at home by the newly-promoted side.
Sheffield Wednesday are going to be a much tougher test this weekend.
The Owls have been decent in front of goal this season, drawing a blank in just one of their seven Championship fixtures so far.
Nyland will have to step up his game sooner rather than later, and hopefully he does that this weekend by playing out of his skin and finally looking like he is a good replacement to Sam Johnstone.