Darren Bent suggests that Aston Villa boss Dean Smith may axe Orjan Nyland and replace him with Pepe Reina against Chelsea on Sunday.
The former Villa and England striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, insists that the Villans need the Spaniard’s experience between the sticks as they battle against relegation.
Nyland was at the heart of the controversy in Villa’s 0-0 draw against Sheffield United after both the officials and goalline technology failed to pick up that the 29-year-old had carried the ball over the line.
Bent insists that Villa cannot afford another goalkeeping mishap against Chelsea and suggests that Smith will be seriously considering changing things between the sticks.
Asked if he thought the manager could swap goalkeepers on Sunday, Bent told Football Insider: “I do think there’s an opportunity, I think maybe, potentially.
“With Pepe Reina, in situations like that you need goalkeepers with experience and guys that know how to get results.
“Pepe Reina is a born winner, World Cup, the lot – he’s played at the top, top level and you can’t have situations like that. Villa got away with one in the week but who’s to say that they won’t have another one and they won’t get away with it?
“I think that’s a position that most definitely Dean Smith will have to look at.”
Nyland has played just four times in the Premier League this season, having been behind Tom Heaton, Jed Steer and Reina in the pecking order.
The Spanish shot-stopper, who joined on loan from AC Milan in January to cover for the Villans’ injury crisis, started all six of the club’s league games prior to lockdown.
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By: Football Insider speaking to Darren Bent
Title: Aston Villa news: Bent tips Nyland to be axed v Chelsea
Sourced From: www.footballinsider247.com/most-definitely-exclusive-darren-bent-tips-aston-villa-to-axe-senior-star-v-chelsea/
Published Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2020 17:00:17 +0000
