Dean Smith was full of praise for Anwar El Ghazi following Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, hailing the 25-year-old’s application in training and resilience to fight for his spot in the team despite the lack of playing time this season.
El Ghazi hasn’t started a Premier League game since July and only has 49 minutes of top-flight football under his belt in 2020/21. He finds himself behind Trezeguet, Bertrand Traore and Jack Grealish in the pecking order, but Smith says the Dutchman hasn’t given up trying to break into the team in the longer run.
The manager told Villa TV: “Anwar is competing this season with Jack, Trezeguet and Traore and he’s found it difficult to break in so far. But whenever he’s stepped up, he’s played well. He’s a top player, we know that – one of the major reasons we’re in this league.
“The goal and the penalty will have done him the world of good. By coming on the pitch and scoring that goal, it will certainly lift his confidence. Over the last two weeks, certainly in training, I’ve seen a marked difference in his application and attitude to training, to wanting to get back into the team.”
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Smith clearly sees the effort El Ghazi is putting in and his teammates support the Dutch international too – Grealish let El Ghazi take the match-winning penalty against Wolves and Tyrone Mings shamed Villa supporters who abused his team-mate on social media.
The 25-year-old has made seven appearances in all competitions this season, scoring two goals. He started every Carabao Cup game for the Villans but has only been introduced from the bench in the Premier League (Transfermarkt). Whether his goal against Wolves sees him start against Burnley remains to be seen, though.
In other news, Dean Smith proclaimed one rising star at Villa Park as ‘one for the future’.
