Correspondent|ASTON VILLA manager Dean Smith has backed Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba to play an important role in the English Premier League side’s relegation fight after being impressed by his solid performance in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City last Sunday.
The 26-year-old Warriors midfielder was one of Aston Villa’s stand-out performers in his maiden cup final at the iconic Wembley Stadium as he continues to regain his form after a tough spell, but his efforts were in vain as the Birmingham side lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
One of the highlights of the match for Nakamba was undoubtedly his crunching tackle on City’s striker Sergio Aguero in the 72nd minute, which earned him a yellow card although replays suggested he won the ball first while making very little contact with the Argentine forward.
“Villa’s best midfielder in that central (midfield) area, looked bang up for it and put in crucial blocks and made interceptions for fun. “Had a classy look about him, picking apart some of City’s slack passes while, in the second half, put in a crunching tackle on Aguero to get the Villa faithful fired up. He was one of the stand-out performers for Villa at Wembley…needs to find that consistency now,” The Birmingham Mail wrote in their player ratings after the match.
The manner in which Nakamba rose to the occasion on the big stage during the cup final also impressed Villa boss Smith, who on Friday named the Zimbabwean among the players he expects to play a crucial role in his battle against relegation from the top flight.
Villa are facing a quick return to the Championship after just one season back in the Premier League as they are second from bottom on the log and two points from safety ahead of their tough trip to Leicester City tomorrow.
Speaking during Friday’s press conference, Smith said his team’s chances of survival would depend on his high-profile players, who include Nakamba, club skipper Tyrone Mings, highly-rated forward Jack Grealish and Tanzanian striker Mbwana Ally Samatta.
“I thought Marvelous Nakamba against Manchester City was excellent,” Smith said.
“If we’ve got these kind of players on form and performing well, we’ve certainly got a chance (of surviving relegation). The likes of Jack, Tyrone, Ally Samatta’s come in and been a bright sparks for us. They can be really important from now until the end of the season,” he said.
Nakamba’s return to good form after a difficult spell in his debut Premier League campaign comes at a time Villa are facing a tough run of matches, which could determine their survival chances.
After tomorrow’s clash against Leicester at the King Power Stadium, Villa, who have a game in hand after their match with Sheffield United was postponed because of the Carabao Cup final, next face Chelsea at Villa Park next Saturday before matches against Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester United in April.
Smith, however, insists that his charges are up to the task.
“It’s tough but we need to make sure we get the performances from the Tottenham and Manchester City games and not the Southampton game,” he said.
“The consistency in performances is what will get us the points in the bag. There are big games but we’re not fearing them at all. We’re full of respect for them because we know, on our day, we can beat any of them.”
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