--- title: "Aston Villa’s best performers throughout the international break " canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2026/10/27/aston-villas-best-performers-throughout-the-international-break/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Read Aston Villa" section: "Link Article" published: "2026-10-27T15:33:01Z" modified: "2026-10-27T15:33:01Z" --- # Aston Villa’s best performers throughout the international break **The international break couldn’t have come at a better time for Aston Villa.** After a summer of turmoil that saw star players Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Emi Martinez, Ollie Watkins, and captain Ezri Konsa leave, the Villans have struggled to pick up where they left off last season. Unai Emery’s men failed to net in each of their opening three Premier League games, losing two and drawing one, before then dropping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, which left them rooted to the relegation zone. ## **Villa’s start to the season** Goals from new signings Johan Manzambi and Nicholas Jackson, as well as a stunner from Emi Buendia, sealed an impressive [3-2 win away at Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/19/tottenham-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report) on matchday five, Villa’s first win of the season, ensuring that the squad broke up for the international break in good spirits. But even so, the latest online betting odds still suggest that replicating last season’s top four finish could well be an uphill struggle. The latest odds from [5Gringos online sportsbook](https://5gringos.com/ca/sports) make Villa a lengthy 10/1 to finish fourth or higher this season, with the likes of Brentford (3/1) and Brighton (5/2) both considered more likely, as well as the usual suspects, such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United. In fact, even a top six finish seems unlikely in the bookies’ eyes, with Emery’s side a 7/2 long shot in that market also. Villa’s squad is currently spread far and wide across the globe, with players representing their national teams. But which of them have made the biggest impact on the international stage throughout the current window? Let’s take a look. ## **Victor Lindelöf** One man who is enjoying a new lease of life at Villa Park this season following the departure of former captain Konsa is [Victor Lindelöf](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/204679/victor-lindelof). The former Manchester United man has played every minute of Aston Villa’s season thus far, minus the 3-1 victory away at Coventry in the first round of the EFL Cup. It’s a stark contrast to last term when the experienced defender was used as more of a rotation option behind the departed Konsa and Spanish centre-back Pau Torres. This term, however, Lindelöf has made a spot at the heart of Villa’s defence his own, and the recent rejuvenation of his career continued on the international stage. The 32-year-old has been captain of the Swedish national team since 2021. He captained the Blågult in their recent run to the World Cup round of 32, and he wore the captain’s armband proudly for his country’s two recent UEFA Nations League openers. Sweden first welcomed Romania to Stockholm for their League B clash, and Lindelöf would deliver a solid display in defence, providing the perfect platform for Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres to find the back of the net in a 2-1 win. Next up, Poland would visit the Swedish capital, and they too were put to the sword. Lindelöf assisted Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren for the opener, and while Sebastian Szymański would equalise, second-half strikes from Yasin Ayari and Arsenal’s Gyökeres would seal a 3-1 win. The result is that Sweden and captain Lindelöf are now in pole position to secure promotion to League A for the first time since the second edition of the tournament back in 2021. For Villa boss Emery, he will be hoping his central defender can carry his impressive form in claret and blue once the Premier League returns. ## **Nicholas Jackson** Nicholas Jackson was the man Aston Villa turned to when long-serving striker Ollie Watkins departed for Saudi Arabia. The Villans forked out £47.5m to secure the Senegalese international’s services from Chelsea, and he has shown signs in recent games that he is getting up to speed with the tactics of manager Emery. The 25-year-old scored his first goal for the Villans in the 3-2 win away at Club Brugge, and he would net his first Premier League goal 11 days later when Villa won 3-2 at Spurs. Jackson has carried his [recent purple patch](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/20/nicolas-jackson-tammy-abraham-aston-villa-striker-battle/) over to the Senegal national team, scoring and providing an assist in the Lions of Teranga’s two recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The former Bayern Munich man netted Senegal’s opener in the 1-1 draw away at Mozambique, a result that was unquestionably a disappointment, despite the striker’s impressive personal display. He would then assist fellow Villa new boy Ibrahim Mbaye in the 1-0 win against Ethiopia. ## **Aaron Wan-Bissaka** Many Villa fans were underwhelmed by the loan signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, especially after his relegation with West Ham United last season. So far this season, he has been deployed as a rotation option and was even hauled off at half-time in the recent 3-2 win at Spurs. With the DR Congo national team, however, the former Manchester United man is one of the first names on the teamsheet. AWB played every minute for the Leopards in their opening two AFCON qualifiers, conceding just once in the process. The 28-year-old provided a sturdy last line of defence in the 2-0 win against Equatorial Guinea, and while that defence was breached for the trip to Zimbabwe, Wan-Bissaka managed to play a starring role in a 2-1 win. He will now be aiming to return to Villa and attempt to beat Matty Cash to a starting berth at right back.