Unai Emery says other players are in front of Alejandro Garnacho and he has to work hard to gain a place in the Aston Villa team after a slow start to life at the club.
The Argentina international arrived at Villa Park on loan from Chelsea over the summer, but is yet to make any impact.
The 22-year-old has made three substitute appearances in Villa’s defeats to Brighton and Arsenal and in a goalless draw with Hull.
Wednesday night looked like a possible chance to shine for him as Villa took on Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, but Garnacho was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win.
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Emery has made it clear that the former Manchester United winger is down the pecking order at the minute and only hard work will see him rise up it.
Specifically he named teenagers George Hemmings and Ibrahim Mbaye and 20-year-old summer signing from Gremio, Alysson as ahead of Garnacho in his thoughts right now.
‘[He has to] continue working. Work, work, train, work,’ Emery said of Garnacho. ‘When he can have minutes to play, try and play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
‘George [Hemmings] is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want.
‘[Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well. We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have.
‘Garnacho is a little bit behind, because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs.’
After a summer of upheaval, it has been a nightmare start to the Premier League season for Aston Villa, with just one point picked up in their first four games.
Emery feels the Carabao Cup win at Coventry helps them move towards where they want to be, though, as they bed in a string of new signings.
‘We are now competing, trying to get into the direction of our objectives,’ he said. ‘One of those objectives is to try to get comfortable and get confidence with the players joining us.
‘I think today is an important match and of course two goals scored by Tammy [Abraham], is giving us confidence. So today we did one step forward in trying to achieve it. Of course we will need time with these players in getting better. But today we did one step forward in this direction.
‘Secondly to try to compete for one trophy, this is a trophy and a way for Europe, so winning this match we are feeling confident and we will compete in the next round. We are motivated to try to get those objectives. Today we did progress forward.’