Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton has suggested that current Villan Matt Targett could replace Neil Taylor for his side’s clash with Burnley on Saturday.
Welsh international Taylor has played in all six of Villa’s Premier League matches so far this season, but Hutton believes that Targett may be more suited to unlocking a Clarets defence that he thinks will park the bus at Villa Park.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “I think that’s probably the thing that Targett’s got better [over Taylor]. When you’ve got a six-foot-three, powerful striker, he’s going to be wanting balls delivered into the box on the regular.
“I think one of his key attributes is delivery so in games, especially in certain games at home, for instance, if we look forward to the Burnley game this week, they might sit in at Villa Park.
“A person who can deliver the ball is what you’re going to need to break down certain defences.”
Who would be better suited to playing against Burnley?
Hutton is working under the assumption that Burnley will sit in and defend deep when they visit Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.
To be fair to him, that could well be the case. Sean Dyche’s side have registered fewer touches in possession than any other side in the division so far this season, as per the Premier League themselves, as well as making the fewest passes so far this term.
If, then, it is their intention to shut up shop and allow Villa possession, it could well be that Dean Smith’s men need something a little different to unpick the lock.
If that is the case, then would Targett be better suited to starting ahead of Taylor.
Taylor certainly hasn’t offered a great deal on the front foot so far this season.
His average of 0.2 key passes and 0.2 successful crosses per game in the Premier League so far this season, as per Whoscored, certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
By comparison, Targett, who played 16 times for Southampton in the Premier League last season, averaged 1.4 key passes per game, as well as 1.4 crosses, as per Whoscored.
If Smith is looking for a defender who can provide service to target man Wesley against the visitors on Saturday then Hutton is right, Targett is the man for the job.