One of Villa’s summer signing is enjoying a first run in Unai Emery’s line-up and has been rewarded with the chance to win a first senior international cap.

Villa boss Unai Emery has been left with an international break head scratcher after an 11th hour call for Matteo Ruggeri.

The new Villa Park left-back was initially named on the standby list by boss Roberto Mancini but was this week selected as a replacement for injured Azzurri team-mate Federico Dimarco.

Ruggeri, 24, can win his first caps for Italy in Nations League fixtures against Belgium, France and Turkiye twice.

The £17million recruit from Atletico Madrid joins nine senior Villa colleagues for international duty during this extended three-week break.

Emery’s side will tackle friendlies, with dates unconfirmed, against Championship outfit Southampton and Sevilla, of La Liga, during the pause from club action.

Ruggeri’s temporary absence from Villa duties, coupled with Ian Maatsen’s injury, leaves left-back options thin on the ground for the warm-up fixtures and for training during the break.

Fellow full-backs Matty Cash (Poland) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) are also away on international duty.

Completing the call-ups for their nations are Nicolas Jackson and Brahim Mbaye (Senegal), Victor Lindelof (Sweden), Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), John McGinn (Scotland) and Zion Suzuki (Japan).

Ruggeri started in Villa’s last two matches, victories against Coventry in the EFL Cup and Tottenham in the Premier League, with Maatsen absent.

Emery has been impressed with how Ruggeri has settled into his role. The Italian spent one season at former club Atletico in Spain after moving from Atalanta of Serie A in his homeland.

Villa return to action at home to Brentford on Saturday, October 10.