---
title: "Ludwig Augustinsson impressed on international duty"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2022/09/28/ludwig-augustinsson-impressed-on-international-duty/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Thompson"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2022-09-28T16:05:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-03T11:37:58Z"
---

# Ludwig Augustinsson impressed on international duty

[Aston Villa](https://readastonvilla.com/) were dealt a blow after Lucas Digne suffered an [ankle injury](https://theathletic.com/3610959/2022/09/20/lucas-digne-france-squad/) which forced him to withdraw from the France squad recently.

However, should the full-back find himself unavailable to feature in any of his club’s upcoming Premier League games, one man to whom Steven Gerrard could turn as a suitable replacement is Ludwig Augustinsson.

Villa signed the defender on a season-long [loan deal](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11003299/Aston-Villa-confirm-season-long-loan-signing-Swedish-defender-Ludwig-Augustinsson-Sevilla.html) from Sevilla in July. Since then, the 28-year-old has been an [unused substitute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ludwig-augustinsson/leistungsdaten/spieler/170646) for all of the Midlands club’s Premier League games and is [still awaiting](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ludwig-augustinsson/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/170646) his club debut.

However, Augustinsson’s performance for Sweden in their UEFA Nations League match against Slovenia on Tuesday night should have proved to Gerrard that he could be a suitable stand-in for the injured Frenchman.

**Augustinsson impresses for Sweden**

Playing for the full 90 minutes in Stockholm, the left-back had 100 touches of the ball in total, completing 59 passes, one cross and three long balls ([SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/sweden-slovenia/JObsNTb)).

Augustinsson excelled from a defensive point of view last night as he made [three](https://www.sofascore.com/sweden-slovenia/JObsNTb) interceptions and one clearance and won 100% of his aerial duels (2/2), not being dribbled past by an opponent on any occasion.

This performance ultimately earned the Villa figure a solid match rating of 7/10 from [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/sweden-slovenia/JObsNTb), which is higher than four other Sweden players who started the game, including Tottenham Hotspur attacker Dejan Kulusevski.

**Gerrard, take note**

Bearing in mind how Digne has made more blocks ([16](https://fbref.com/en/squads/8602292d/2022-2023/c9/Aston-Villa-Stats-Premier-League)) and successful pressures ([32](https://fbref.com/en/squads/8602292d/2022-2023/c9/Aston-Villa-Stats-Premier-League)) and has a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions ([22](https://fbref.com/en/squads/8602292d/2022-2023/c9/Aston-Villa-Stats-Premier-League)) than any other defender at Villa, it seems as though Augustinsson has now shown he has the defensive credentials to be a reliable figure for Gerrard in the Frenchman’s absence.

With the Sweden international now showing what he’s capable of producing, this should be a big boost for the Villa boss and give him the confidence that the Scandinavian rock can do a job at the back for the Villans if needed.