One Aston Villa Player Who Might Not be Lost to the African Cup of Nations

AFCON AWOL

There’s a perceived myth that come the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Aston Villa will be a bit short up top. Villa’s attacking trio of Jonathan Kodjia, Jordan Ayew and Albert Adomah are all constantly mentioned as heading to Gabon for the international tournament and leaving Villa in the lurch during the second-half of January.

Villa currently have five matches scheduled during the time AFCON is on:

Jan 14th – Wolves (a)

Jan 21st – Preston (h)

Jan 28th – Bristol City (h)

Jan 31st – Brentford (a)

Feb 4th – Notts Forest (a)

So, for the team to be missing during this period arguably their three most effective forward players of the moment, it could certainly inconvenience Villa’s promotion push.

HOME BOY

However, under closer inspection, Albert Adomah hasn’t actually played for Ghana since scoring in a 1-1 friendly draw against Canada way back in October 2015. That was his only start for the Black Stars that year, with his only other appearance coming as a sub in a 1-0 friendly win against Togo.

Ghana’s national coach and former Chelsea manager, Avram Grant, who took over the Ghanian national team in November 2014, clearly hasn’t fancied Adomah for the AFCON qualifiers and unless the Villa player seriously shines for his club over Christmas, is unlikely to suddenly change Grant’s mind for the actual tournament.

Is easy to forget that in Adomah, Villa bought a London-born earnest pro, that has worked his way through the lower leagues with Barnet and Bristol City, rather than an established international starter.

The 28-year-old has only ever actually started 11 games for his national team with a further seven appearances as sub, and not being picked for over a year after Grant had a look at him for a couple of games, suggests Villa’s right-sided attacking midfielder will be plying his trade at a chilly Villa Park rather than enjoying football in a sun during the AFCON.

UTV

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Thanks to Sam Tighe for the heads-up. Follow the man here – @stighefootball