Unai Emery admits prediction on Aston Villa's Jhon Duran is 'impossible'

The 20-year-old Colombia international came off the bench to score twice in three minutes and salvage a 3-3 draw for Emery’s team on Monday night.

Duran has now scored six Premier League goals in his first full season following an £18million move from Chicago Fire and though his form has been inconsistent, Emery is aware of his talent.

The Villa boss said: “He is very young, 20 years old. His potential, it is impossible to predict how far he is going to get.

“But I believe in him. The football in Colombia is tactically very different to the Premier League.

“We’re working with him a lot. I know he’s going to score and get chances and use his power.

“His potential is clear but we need to manage him as a young person. I’m very happy how he helped us because this is the consequence.”

Villa skipper John McGinn described the somewhat unpredictable Duran as “a bit nuts” and added: “He’s a nightmare to have in your team at times but he’s got moments of quality.

“The first goal on Monday was a top finish but we need to try to keep his feet on the ground for the next couple of days.”

McGinn described Villa’s players as being “out on their feet” after the 55th and penultimate match of what has been a marathon season.

Right-back Matty Cash is the latest player to be sidelined with a calf injury, while Nicolo Zaniolo will also be assessed after being forced off just 15 minutes after coming off the bench against the Reds.

That misfortune ultimately worked in Villa’s favour with Moussa Diaby, the player Duran would have replaced instead of Zaniolo, having a hand in the equaliser when his mishit pass struck his team-mates knee and looped in.

“I know we got a bit of fortune at the end but it’s been a tough couple of weeks,” said McGinn. “The manager won’t admit it but the boys are out on their feet, we’ve given absolutely everything.

“For us throughout the season, what has gone under the radar is the injuries.

“We’re not comparing ourselves to others, the manager has got a no excuse mentality, we’ve not used it, people keep writing us off, all throughout the year, we’ve just floated under the radar nicely.”

Villa, who finish their season at Crystal Palace on Sunday, endured the worst possible start when Emi Martinez scored an own goal and trailed 3-1 when Cody Gakpo and Jarrell Quansah scored after Youri Tielemans had equalised.

“We fought right until the end,” said Tielemans. “That’s the most important thing and that’s the mentality that we have.”