Aston Villa striker told to show more 'fire and gusto' in fight for place

Tammy Abraham has been urged to bring more “fire and gusto” to his performances if he wants to be a success at Villa.

The striker has scored only three goals in 21 appearances since returning to the club in an £18.2million move from Besiktas last January.

Abraham was offered a route out of Villa Park in the final weeks of the transfer window by Ipswich and then Everton but turned down both, telling boss Unai Emery he wanted to fight for his place.

But he struggled to make an impact after replacing new signing Nicolas Jackson off the bench during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie at Coventry City is likely to present the 28-year-old another chance and former Villa and Sky Blues striker Garry Thompson believes it is time he began delivering.

Thompson told the Express & Star: “I’m looking at Tammy and thinking I would like to see a bit more fire and gusto about his performance.

“He needs to use his body and put himself about a bit more.

“I don’t want it to sound like I am killing the lad but I am just not sure what he is bringing at the minute.

“He hasn’t done anything to suggest he is going to be the man.

“At the moment he is behind Nicolas Jackson in the pecking order, with Brian Madjo still to come back from injury.

“From a player who turned down the chance to move away to fight for his place, you need more.”

Wednesday’s match is the first meeting between Coventry and Villa for 25 years and a big night for the home side in several senses.

It was at Villa Park their 2001 relegation from the Premier League was infamously confirmed and though few Villa supporters are likely to have given their Midlands neighbours much thought since, the animosity from the Coventry side has always been considerable.

Throw in the Sky Blues’ difficult start to life back in the top flight and visiting players and supporters should be braced for a hostile atmosphere, albeit the home club’s questionable ticket pricing strategy may mean there are several thousand empty seats.

Villa boss Unai Emery has always viewed the Carabao Cup as a distant fourth on his list of priorities each season but after a difficult start to his large-scale rebuild, the value of any win cannot be ignored.

Injuries to Ian Maatsen and Pau Torres are likely to accelerate the revamp. Ibraham Mbaye, Matteo Ruggeri and Johan Manzambi could make their first starts, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis primed for his first involvement since joining from Southampton.

“It’s OK saying players need time to adapt but the quickest way to learn is by playing,” said Thompson.

“You need some of these new signings to start getting in the groove.”

A lifelong Villa supporter who helped fire the club to promotion from Division Two in 1987, Thompson made more than 150 appearances for Coventry at the start of his career and is held in warm affection by supporters of both clubs.

“Coventry were brilliant to me and I am delighted they are back in the top flight,” he said.

“They’ve had a difficult start and I always think it’s key how promoted teams react after a heavy defeat, like they had against Brighton the other day.

“It’s an important match for both teams.”