Kosta Nedeljkovic has strengthened his case for another opportunity at Aston Villa after making an encouraging start to pre-season.
His future remains uncertain, but his performances have given Unai Emery a genuine decision over whether another loan is really necessary.
The 20-year-old has featured three times this summer and registered an assist, while Villa have conceded only twice during his minutes on the pitch.
Aston Villa News reports that those displays have put Nedeljkovic back into contention after a difficult second loan spell with RB Leipzig. He managed only 252 Bundesliga minutes last season before returning to Villa.
Kosta Nedeljkovic Aston Villa future deserves another look
Villa have needed reliable competition for Matty Cash for some time.
Cash made 49 appearances across all competitions last season, placing a significant workload on a player who remains Emery’s clear first choice at right-back.
Andrés García’s season-long loan to Getafe has opened another route into the squad.
ReadAstonVilla previously analysed why Nedeljkovic’s return could change Cash’s role this season. The Serbian’s pre-season performances have strengthened that argument.
His latest start came in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Indonesia All Stars. Villa’s official match report confirms Nedeljkovic started at right-back before Cash was introduced during the second half.
There are still areas Nedeljkovic needs to improve, particularly if Villa want him defending high up the pitch against Premier League opposition.
However, his pace and willingness to advance give Emery a natural alternative to Cash rather than forcing a centre-back or midfielder into the position.
Leipzig spell means Villa still need patience
The strongest argument against keeping Nedeljkovic is his lack of regular senior football.
He made only five Bundesliga appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, totalling 252 minutes. That is hardly enough evidence to suggest he is ready to start regularly for a Champions League club.
Another loan would guarantee him more opportunities to develop.
However, ReadAstonVilla reported after his Leipzig return that Villa faced precisely this decision: send him away for regular football or use pre-season to determine whether he can become Cash’s deputy.
So far, Nedeljkovic has made the latter option increasingly credible.
Emery can solve right-back depth without another signing
Villa still have several weeks to make their final decision.
Nedeljkovic should receive further opportunities during the Asian tour, with BG Pathum United and Bayern Munich providing increasingly difficult tests.
Saturday’s victory also continued an encouraging summer for several fringe and academy players. ReadAstonVilla highlighted Villa’s leading pre-season contributors after the Jakarta win, showing how Emery is using these matches to assess more than his established starters.
Nedeljkovic does not need to displace Cash.
He needs to prove Villa can trust him enough to reduce Cash’s workload without dramatically weakening the side.
His limited Leipzig minutes mean that conclusion cannot be reached after three friendlies. Yet his performances have earned him the opportunity to keep making the argument.
If Nedeljkovic maintains this level throughout August, Villa may already have their second right-back without spending another penny.
