Unai Emery pondering defensive solutions as Aston Villa head to Brentford

The right-side of central defence is the one exception.

Axel Disasi’s return to Chelsea at the end of last season means the position has been a priority for Villa in the transfer market but so far they have yet to make a signing.

That makes Konsa’s sending-off in last weekend’s 0-0 campaign opening draw with Newcastle all the more unfortunate. For one match, at least, Emery will need to come up with a temporary solution.

One option would be to pair Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings, his two available recognised centre-backs, alongside each other. 

But both are left-footed and the Villa boss has previously preferred to keep a right-foot, left-foot pairing in the heart of defence, to the extent left-back Lucas Digne played the majority of January’s 1-1 draw with West Ham at left centre-back after Mings was forced off with injury. Neither have Mings or Torres ever played in the same Villa team in a competitive match before.

Another solution would be to play Lamare Bogarde in place of Konsa, with the former having deputised in the position on occasions last season.

Bogarde, who started some of Villa’s pre-season matches at centre-back, has impressed Emery with his attitude and his versatility is viewed as a useful asset for the squad. At 21, however, he remains relatively inexperienced.

Perhaps the most likely option Emery will take is the same he used immediately following Konsa’s sending-off against the Magpies.

When Villa lost both Mings and Torres to injury to leave a hole on the left side of central defence last season, Emery used Boubacar Kamara as a temporary stopgap and he might well consider the Frenchman, who is right-footed, the best option for facing the Bees. 

That would also allow Youri Tielemans to drop into a deeper, more familiar midfield role after the Belgium international, so often the player who makes Villa tick, struggled to impact play against Newcastle from higher up the pitch.

While Konsa will be missing from the trip to his former club, Emery will be able to call on Emi Martinez for the first time this season. The Argentina international is expected to replace Marco Bizot in goal.

There could also be a reshuffle in attack with Evann Guessand pushing to make his Premier League debut.

Emery believes the Ivory Coast international’s versatility can make him a valuable asset for Villa.

He said: “We signed him thinking he can play in different positions.

“How we can set him in our structure as best as possible is my work with him. Of course, he's a very good player and he's going to help us a lot, hopefully.”