Aston Villa journalist Danny Raza has been discussing who should start in goal for Villa in their upcoming Premier League clash with Sheffield United.
This comes after the subject was brought up on a recent episode of Holtecast, a Villa-themed podcast. When asked who should start in net for Dean Smith’s side on Wednesday, Raza suggested Orjan Nyland should be the one between the sticks for Villa.
Raza said that from a ‘fans’ perspective and a passion perspective’, Nyland should start the match because ‘it matters to him’.
Raza then added: “[Nyland] is going to be concentrating all the way. He’s always proved when he’s been dropped and when he’s come back in the team that he gets better. He’s a long way from that player who was letting in howlers.”
Villa currently have three of their four goalkeepers fit for action, with Tom Heaton still recovering from a serious knee injury he sustained back in January.
As a result of Heaton’s injury, Villa brought in former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina on a loan deal from AC Milan in the previous January transfer window.
Since then, Reina has played in Villa’s six previous Premier League fixtures, conceding 13 goals in the process (per Transfermarkt).
However, Nyland’s last Premier League appearance for Villa saw him concede six goals to Manchester City at Villa Park back in January.
Which goalkeeper would you start against Sheffield United?
Pepe Reina
Jed Steer
Orjan Nyland
TIF Thoughts…
With three out of Villa’s four goalkeepers, fit and available for selection against Chris Wilder’s side this week, Smith certainly has an important decision to make regarding which one of the three will start the match.
With Villa having conceded more Premier League goals than any other top-flight side this season, they will need to improve defensively if they want to avoid relegation back to the Championship this season.