Aston Villa 2018-19 player preview: André Green

This is the season that André Green has been waiting for and it is up to him to pounce on it.

The 20-year-old has made just 26 appearances for Aston Villa — and it would not surprise anyone paying attention if he plays more than double that figure in the 18/19 campaign across all competitions. Green was forced to watch from the sidelines last year and Adomah and Snodgrass poured in goals and assists from the wide positions. Hopefully he was paying close attention because with Snodgrass gone and Adomah being tested as a striker (though I think that was a passing preseason fad) — Green is probably going to be given his chance to own the left wing position.

Steve Bruce needs to take everything he did for Jack Grealish last year — and do the same for André Green. One big difference is Green is unlikely to get the kind of defensive attention and fouling that Jack has picked up — that should open up running room for the winger. Green ended the preseason with a brace against Dresden. You can’t ask for more of a confident finish - on both occasions.

If Green gets off to a big start — I’d expect Villa to start talking ‘contract extension’ before December because this is seemingly the final year of his deal. And that would be a wonderful problem to have.