Football reporterPublished10 minutes agoJust like last season, questions are being asked about Alejandro Garnacho.
Two months after joining from Chelsea on an initial loan, the winger has yet to convince Aston Villa boss Unai Emery of his worth.
The Argentina forward has played just 31 minutes for Villa, spread across three substitute appearances.
A 15-minute outing against Hull is the most time he has spent on the pitch in a game.
Garnacho has been an unused substitute for Villa's past four matches , watching from the bench again as they won 3-2 at Tottenham on Saturday.
One goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for Chelsea last term fell below what the Blues expected from their £40m recruit from Manchester United, so he was allowed to move on.
This campaign is only a month old, but 22-year-old Garnacho could be at a crossroads at Villa Park already.
To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played
Highlights: Villa survive late Spurs scare for first PL win of the season
Youri Tielemans did not start a Premier League game until November 2023 after joining in the summer, but became an integral part of Emery's machine.
Only Joao Gomes, out of 10 new summer signings, started Villa's opening Premier League game. Just two - Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson - started the next.
Garnacho's situation feels extreme though, having been left on the bench for the Carabao Cup win at Coventry when Emery made seven changes.
Academy product George Hemmings, who joined Villa from Forest as a teenager, has started the season well to earn Emery's full trust and start ahead of Garnacho.
Ibrahim Mbaye, a £47m arrival from Paris St-Germain, made his first Villa start in the 3-1 victory at Coventry and is also preferred to Garnacho for now.
A facial injury in early August hampered Garnacho's pre-season and meant he missed the Super Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain, adding to the complications.
Emery needs his players to understand their roles and his methods before having full faith in them and he expects Garnacho to catch up.
"Continue working. Work, work, train, work," Emery said when asked about Garnacho's absence from the pitch.
"When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
"George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. [Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well.
"We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs."
Garnacho, who first made his name as a livewire teenager, has shown in the past he can torment defences at Premier League level.
He spoke about needing time to adapt to a "different club and a different place" at Chelsea.
A further season of struggle would be a significant setback.
Emery is clearly yet to be convinced by what he sees in training, despite being a long-term Garnacho admirer.
Villa wanted more pace in their side and Crysencio Summerville was considered before he moved to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.
Chelsea's £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Villa left a gap for Emery to fill and Garnacho was available. A positive relationship between the clubs allowed for easy discussions.
Striker Jackson also joined from Chelsea for a Villa club record £65m and there have been eight deals between the clubs in the past four years.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Alejandro Garnacho suffered a facial injury against BG Pathum on Aston Villa's pre-season tour in Thailand
Garnacho did not train with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea squad before leaving for Villa Park in July.
Roma were interested in the winger, but their loan offer did not suit Chelsea. Instead, Villa's deal gives the Blues the chance to make their money back after last year's outlay.
There is an obligation to buy tied into the loan that is believed to relate to appearances, and it is expected to be achievable - but that does not guarantee anything.
For instance, Harvey Elliott would have triggered a move worth £35m if he made just 10 Premier League appearances last season. As it turned out, the Liverpool loanee - now at Valencia - was used just four times by Villa in the top flight.
Emery did not feel the 23-year-old was good enough and made up his mind not to sign Elliott permanently just a couple of months into the season.
It raised the question for some within the game about whether a loan at Villa should be viewed with caution, and whether other players' careers could be derailed in the way Elliott experienced.
It was accepted that Elliott's options this summer were not as extensive following his season at Villa Park.
Time will tell whether Garnacho faces the same struggles, having experienced his career stalling over the past two years.
He made his Manchester United debut aged 17 and was part of Argentina's Copa America‑winning squad in 2024, but has not added to his eight international caps since November of that year.
The Madrid-born attacker also won the Premier League's goal of the season award in 2023-24 for his overhead kick against Everton while playing for United, but his output for Chelsea was disappointing.
Emery is waiting to see Garnacho fulfil his full potential at Villa, but the winger will have to wait until he gains the coach's trust, and then take his chance.
How will clubs train during three-week international break?
'Far from their best' to 'a joy to watch' - ranking Premier League teams' start to season
Will extended break put more pressure on managers?
