George Hemmings has given Unai Emery another major selection decision before Aston Villa face Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The 19-year-old was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Villa’s difficult start to the season, but he is increasingly making his place in the side difficult to take away.
Hemmings completed 90 minutes on his Champions League debut as Villa beat Club Brugge 3-2 on Tuesday.
That followed Premier League starts against Brighton, Arsenal and Hull City.
Despite millions being spent on new attacking options this summer, Hemmings has now started four consecutive competitive matches.
Nottingham Forest could make it five.
George Hemmings continues to earn Emery trust
Hemmings’ inclusion in Belgium was particularly significant.
Emery had Alejandro Garnacho and £47million summer signing Ibrahim Mbaye available, but instead retained the academy graduate in his starting XI.
It was a decision we highlighted when Aston Villa’s confirmed team against Club Brugge was announced.
Hemmings then played the full match as Villa finally secured their first victory of the season.
The Guardian felt the youngster “did not look out of place” on his Champions League debut, while his performance data showed four attempts as Villa produced comfortably their most dangerous attacking display of the campaign.
Opta’s current George Hemmings statistics underline just how quickly his first-team involvement has increased this season.
Emery’s comments afterwards were even more revealing.
Speaking following the win, the Villa manager said Hemmings was “progressively getting better and understanding everything we demand”, with Hayters carrying Emery’s praise for the youngster.
That does not sound like a manager preparing to immediately remove him from the team.
Nottingham Forest return adds another Hemmings subplot
Saturday would carry additional significance for Hemmings.
The midfielder joined Aston Villa from Nottingham Forest’s academy in January 2024 before signing his first professional Villa contract later that year.
Our George Hemmings Aston Villa profile tracks his progression from Forest’s youth system through Villa’s academy and into Emery’s first team.
His breakthrough has accelerated significantly over the past few weeks.
During the goalless draw at Hull, Hemmings registered Villa’s first Premier League shot on target of the season and later created a major opportunity for Emi Buendía.
That performance prompted our closer look at Hemmings’ Aston Villa breakthrough before Emery rewarded him with a Champions League start three days later.
Hemmings has now gone from academy prospect to genuine Premier League selection option.
Emery must decide whether Hemmings keeps his place
The difficulty for Emery is the competition around him.
Garnacho and Mbaye are both pushing for minutes, while Johan Manzambi could soon return from injury.
John McGinn and Buendía also strengthened their cases by scoring in Bruges.
Yet dropping Hemmings after four consecutive starts would almost feel like a change in approach from Emery.
Our current Aston Villa predicted XI against Nottingham Forest therefore has the 19-year-old retaining his place on the left of the attacking three.
There is a tactical argument for that decision too.
Our analysis of Nottingham Forest’s 3-4-2-1 system showed how spaces can appear around their back three when the wing-backs advance.
Hemmings’ willingness to carry the ball and make direct runs could give Villa another route into those areas.
The final decision will belong to Emery.
But Hemmings is no longer simply playing because Villa are short of alternatives.
He has started ahead of expensive summer signings, impressed on his Champions League debut and earned public praise from his manager.
Facing his former club at Villa Park would be another major step in a breakthrough that is becoming increasingly difficult for Emery to ignore.
