‘The idea with him...’ - Unai Emery offers insight into Moussa Diaby’s new role at Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has detailed the role he expects £52 million record signing Moussa Diaby to have going forward after an impressive start to life in B6.

With two goals in pre-season and another on his Premier League debut away at Newcastle United, the Frenchman has already provided plenty of entertainment in a short period of time.

Diaby has slotted into the shadow striker position just behind Ollie Watkins for the first two competitive matches of the season but Emery is planning on utilising his new number 19 in more ways than one.

“Yes, he can add more goals and more runs behind the opponent’s defence [but] he can add to us [by] playing as a number seven, as a striker a little bit, or helping to drop in as a midfielder,” Emery said after the 4-0 win against Everton.

“The idea with him is to try to get off him his [original] quality but he’s improved already as well. He’s a man in himself; he’s young but he’s mature.

“You are looking at him at his age, he’s responsible and I want players like that. He’s very demanding and really taking a commitment to improve and create something here with the team and as well individually,” Emery continued.

Quite often, big-money signings from foreign divisions can take a little while to adjust to the Premier League but Diaby has already made an early mark.

Emery believes the winger is yet to fully bed in but if anything, that can excite Villa fans even more as what he’s shown at his supposedly non-settled stage has been impressive.

What may cause somewhat of a selection headache, though, is whether or not both Diaby and Leon Bailey can play in the same starting lineup or if they’re better featuring separately.

An unchanged forward line for the two first Premier League games has displayed a desire from Emery to give it a go, but the head coach is very aware that it may not always end positively.

“Last week at Newcastle it didn’t work [Diaby and Bailey together]. We need to balance at home and away. Last week the connection wasn’t good but this week it was much better,” Emery said.

“We have to keep working because Diaby needs time to connect and understand his teammates. I will work with him to do that.”

The recent loan signing of Nicoló Zaniolo from Galatasaray could also scupper Diaby’s chances of starting every single fixture, but that’s to be expected with the extra fixtures to come from the Europa Conference League.

Zaniolo could make his debut on Wednesday evening as Villa get their European campaign underway at Scottish Premiership outfit Hibernian. It’ll be interesting to see if Diaby earns a spot too.