Aston Villa winger tipped to be Unai Emery’s ‘secret weapon’ by respected local journalist

West Midlands football expert Neil Moxley is backing Donyell Malen to be Unai Emery’s secret weapon this season.

Malen signed for Villa in the winter transfer window before being immediately and controversially omitted from the Champions League squad in order that three loanees – Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi – could be registered for the knock-out rounds.

Malen featured in other competitions, mainly as a substitute, scoring three times in 17 appearances in a slower than expected integration at Villa Park.

Many observers believe Malen will be relied upon more often this season. With Asensio and Rashford not retained, Jacob Ramsey sold and Leon Bailey possibly on the way out too, the former PSV winger has been identified as Emery’s ‘secret weapon’ by Moxley.

‘Likely he will come to the fore’

“Not too much was seen last year of Donyell Malen. That was a pity – as what’s been seen so far has been impressive,” he wrote for GiveMeSport.

“He was the fall guy as the Champions League shirts were handed out to the likes of loanees Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford. It’s likely he will come to the fore, particularly if Leon Bailey moves on to Roma.

“The departure of the Jamaica international who by and large suffered a tail off in form last season, should free up some funds for Villa to make good his exit.”

Malen has made an impact off the bench before, scoring as a substitute against both Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton last season. He also raked up 11 goal contributions off the bench for PSV, mostly in 2018/19 in the Eredivisie.

For Borussia Dortmund, the club from which he joined Villa, he made 59 goal contributions in 132 games including a handful after being introduced from the bench.

Malen has also proved his ability to have an impact at international level, scoring 11 goals and assisting nine in his 43 caps for the Netherlands to date. He’s scored in two separate European Championships and has given the Dutch side breakthroughs from the bench on a number of occasions.

The Villa winger will be eager that his ‘secret weapon’ status can be fulfilled in Emery’s starting line-up, not as a substitute. He played just six minutes plus stoppage time of Villa’s opening day draw with Newcastle United, albeit after an Ezri Konsa red card changed Emery’s substitution strategy in the middle of the second half.

Boubacar Kamara moved to centre-back alongside Tyrone Mings as Villa sought to keep things tight and hold on to a point.

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