Aston Villa ace earns spot in Garth Crooks’ Team of the Week after Southampton display

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Garth Crooks has included one Aston Villa star in his Team of the Week.

Villa put on a brilliant display as they ended Southampton’s unbeaten run with a 4-0 victory on Saturday.

Philippe Coutinho bagged another goal and assist for the Midlands club and earned himself a spot in Crooks’ team.

On the Brazilian, Crooks said: “Villa Park is buzzing again and it’s all down to Philippe Coutinho.

“When Steven Gerrard landed the services of the Brazilian he did say that once the player was fully fit he would play a major part in Villa’s progression and that seems to be the case.

“Coutinho is making players play all over the pitch. Why his move to Barcelona didn’t work out is hard to fathom but I haven’t seen a player have such an impact on a Villa team since Jack Grealish.

“It looks like Coutinho has well and truly replaced Grealish - and at a fraction of the cost. Coutinho for Grealish looks like good business done by Villa.”

The 29-year-old now has three goals and three assists in seven appearances for Villa and is looking increasingly to join the club on a permanent deal from Barcelona in the summer.

Alongside Coutinho in Garth Crooks’ TOTW is Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Fabian Schar (Newcastle), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Joao Cancelo (Man City), Reece James (Chelsea), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Riyad Mahrez (Man City), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Kai Havertz (Chelsea) and Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).