Shay Given backs Charles N'Zogbia
The glass might seem half-empty on Charles N'Zogbia's start to life at Aston Villa ahead of the Carling Cup clash with Bolton - but not if you ask Shay Given.
The glass might seem half-empty on Charles N'Zogbia's start to life at Aston Villa ahead of the Carling Cup clash with Bolton - but not if you ask Shay Given.
Following the departures of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, a large portion of Villa's creative void was expected to be filled by the arrival of N'Zogbia.
But the French winger has so far failed to shine in a claret and blue shirt and struggled to recapture the kind of form that made boss Alex McLeish so eager to secure his services from Wigan in the summer.
Inevitably, there will be a settling in period for N'Zogbia, who is still finding his feet at the club following his switch from the DW Stadium and, without a full pre-season, is probably lacking a bit of sharpness.
One player who knows N'Zogbia well is Given, spending just over four seasons with him at Newcastle, who insists the glass is half-full as far as the 25-year-old attacker is concerned.
Given said: "He has been alright. If he can show what he did last year at Wigan and just give himself a bit of a boost or get a goal or a lucky goal it will give him belief that he is a good player.
"I know the Villa fans haven't seen it yet but if they give him time I am sure they will see the best of him. We saw last year at Wigan how good a player he is with his goals and the way he causes problems for defences.
"Hopefully that will come with a few good crosses into the box or a goal to spark his season off.
"Charles was the star player for Wigan last year and that was in the Premier League as well, so hopefully we will see the best of him soon."
Given believes that the £10million price tag hanging round N'Zogbia's neck following his transfer from Wigan might be a factor in his struggles in the early part of the campaign.
The goalkeeper said: "He is probably lacking a bit of confidence at the minute. He has moved for a lot of money and is a young guy.
"Maybe that is weighing on him a little bit, but we have to keep believing in him."
With Villa's squad depleted through injury, N'Zogbia will be given another chance to win over the early-season doubters against the Trotters tonight.
And McLeish has seen enough glimpses of quality from the France international over the past few weeks to suggest he will up his game.
The Villa boss said: "He's got to find his top level in the last third, he's getting into good positions and it's just that final ball and he'll be off and running."