Aston Villa 2017-18 player preview: Jordan Lyden

Jordan Lyden is someone who really needs to be featuring for Aston Villa as a rotation option at this point. He’s got enough talent for us to trust him to deputise for other players. The fact that he started more for Remi Garde’s relegated Villa team is worrying, because he doesn’t deserve that to be his claret and blue highlight. The trouble is, injuries kept him out last season, which might have been his best shot at cementing a role at the Villa. Steve Bruce is a big fan of him, so he’s still got a big chance to shine.

Lyden hasn’t been used right in the first team, though. He’s certainly got defensive abilities, but he’s more focused on attacking. He’s been played at right-back, centre midfield and defensive midfield for Villa, but he can feature on the wing, as a 10, or anywhere else. He’s got an eye for goal and is a born leader - so Villa need to treat him right because he could be a special player. Villa’s midfield is rammed this season, and this utility man might not see much action.