Aston Villa strikers must share the load says Dean Smith
Dean Smith has told forward pair Keinan Davis and Mbwana Samatta they must be ready to split the workload during Villa’s Premier League run-in.
Davis got the nod to start Wednesday’s 0-0 draw against Sheffield United and is expected to keep his place for tomorrow’s visit of Chelsea.
But Smith insists Samatta, an £8.5million January signing from Genk, still has a big part to play and has not ruled out pairing the Tanzanian and Davis together in certain matches.
He said: “I actually pulled both of them into my office when I told them which one was starting (on Wednesday) and said: ‘Listen, you are going to have to share the workload’.
“Being a lone striker is tough. There are times when I will be asking them to play together as well but they both need to be sure they are ready.”
Davis impressed against the Blades in what was his full Premier League debut. Smith revealed how the 22-year-old, who burst onto the scene under Steve Bruce at Villa nearly three years ago, had been working hard on his fitness after a series of niggling injuries hampered his progress.
“The one thing we are looking to do - and you have to with a player the way Keinan is built - is manage him effectively,” said Smith.
“He has learned to manage his body now and we are helping manage his workload. I thought it was a really good start from him, the only thing missing was the goal. He certainly has bags of potential.
“The players here weren’t surprised he got the nod to start the game, in the same way I think many others away from the training ground might have been.
“He is still a young lad and that was his first Premier League start but he deserved it, through what he has done in training and the practice matches.”
