Aston Villa travel to the Etihad to face Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday and it’s almost certainly the last time supporters will see Morgan Sanson in the Claret and Blues kit.
The 27-year-old has started only three league games this season and appears to be a last resort under Steven Gerrard as he doesn’t even play when Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba are absent.
Sanson has made the matchday squad 26 times in the league but has been named on the bench 23 times, being introduced on seven occasions. If the French midfielder is named among the substitutes against City as expected, it will be the 24th time Sanson has been benched – 16 of those times he’s been unused.
It’s slightly embarrassing for a player that joined Villa to become a first-team regular, so this might be the last time Sanson is mentioned. Not only are Luiz, Nakamba, Tim Iroegbunam and Carney Chukwuemeka preferred in midfield, Steven Gerrard is on the hunt for a deep-lying player this summer, so Sanson can’t stay at Villa Park.
He’s amassed less than 700 minutes of playing time in his 18 months at Villa and isn’t likely to be given a swansong against City either.
In other news, Steven Gerrard must start Calum Chambers v Man City
