The crucial midfielder for Aston Villa faces a “huge challenge” from Unai Emery.

Youri Tielemans has a ‘huge challenge’ at Aston Villa because Unai Emery never expected the midfielder to be a starter when he signed as a free agent from Leicester City.

According to Dean Jones, there was ‘no chance’ Tielemans would stroll right into Emery’s starting lineup. The Aston Villa manager just wanted the 26-year-old to give depth to their engine room. He regards the Villans’ midfield as one of their strongest areas.
So far this season, Aston Villa have stuck with a central duo of Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz. Emery has also preferred Moussa Diaby for the advanced role, with John McGinn and Nicolo Zaniolo backing him up. Tielemans has only appeared as a substitute so far.

At Aston Villa, Emery just wanted Tielemans as a squad player.
Tielemans has appeared as a substitute in all seven Premier League games for a total of 136 minutes. He also ranks 14th at Villa Park in terms of minutes played in the Premier League this season. Ezri Konsa is the only Villans player to have played all 630 minutes.

Emery had always envisioned Tielemans in the role the Belgian has maintained thus far. The Aston Villa manager has long wanted to take advantage of the 61-cap technician leaving Leicester as a free agency in order to strengthen his squad. He wanted Tielemans to demonstrate his worthiness for a starting spot.

Tielemans has a ‘major concern’ with his position in Emery’s pecking order.
Emery just wanted Tielemans as a squad option for Aston Villa, which is now a ‘huge headache’ for him. He was a key player for Leicester last season, starting 27 of his 31 Premier League games. In addition, the 26-year-old captained the Foxes for brief periods.

Tielemans’ goal threat also shocked Gary Lineker at the King Power Stadium. Last November, Lineker dubbed the Belgian a’superb’ player after he scored ‘another spectacular volley’ to help his team defeat Everton. Last season, Tielemans scored three goals and assisted on two more.