Garnacho breaks duck in Villa friendly but faces battle to earn Emery's trust

Alejandro Garnacho scored his first goal for Aston Villa in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Southampton during the international break, giving the on-loan winger a timely lift after a frustrating start to life at Villa Park.

The 20-year-old, who joined Villa on loan from Chelsea this summer, has yet to start a Premier League match under Unai Emery and has accumulated just 31 minutes of top-flight action as a substitute. He was also an unused substitute in Villa’s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Coventry City, a game many had expected to provide him with a meaningful opportunity.

Emery has been direct in his assessment of what Garnacho must do to force his way into contention. “Continue working. Work, work, train, work,” the Villa head coach said. “When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.” Those players include academy prospects George Hemming, Ibrahim Mbaye and Alysson, all of whom have featured in recent competitive matches.

The situation has drawn comparisons with Harvey Elliott’s loan spell at Villa from Liverpool last season. Elliott made just five Premier League appearances — only one as a starter — with Emery reportedly reluctant to use the midfielder more regularly because a permanent transfer obligation would have been triggered after 10 appearances.

A similar clause exists in Garnacho’s loan agreement. Villa hold a conditional obligation to sign the Argentine permanently at the end of the season for around £43 million if certain conditions are met, a factor that could influence how Emery manages his minutes.

Garnacho left Manchester United last summer in a £40 million move to Chelsea after his relationship with then-head coach Ruben Amorim broke down. The switch to Stamford Bridge failed to reignite his career, however, as Chelsea finished tenth in the Premier League and missed out on European football, with the winger struggling to command a regular place.

The friendly goal against Southampton will not transform his standing overnight, but it represents a first foothold at a club where he still has much to prove. United are understood to be monitoring his progress closely as the season unfolds.