Unai Emery has opened up on Harvey Elliott’s lack of game time at Aston Villa, having joined on loan from Liverpool in the summer.
Elliott showed flashes of class at the Reds but hoped a new club would afford him the opportunity for consistent selection.
That has not been the case at Villa so far and he needs to make five more appearances before triggering the £35million transfer to Emery’s side.
It remains to be seen whether Villa will keep him sidelined to avoid that from happening but Emery insists Elliott, 22, is not at fault for his omissions.
‘Some players need more time. We can speak about Emiliano Buendia struggled last year. Elliott is working very well,’ he said ahead of Villa’s clash with Leeds on Sunday.
He added: ‘His commitment is fantastic. I’m happy with his work but it’s difficult as other players are performing well’.
Harvey Elliott has struggled for game time at Aston Villa since joining on loan from Liverpool
Unai Emery insists Elliott is working well just finds himself lower in the pecking order
When asked whether Buendia’s impressive displays have been the main reason for Elliott’s lack of chances, Emery said: ‘It is everything, because the adaptation is something that some players need more than others.
‘But the team is going forward and being very demanding to achieve individual and collective performance, also the consistency we need.’
He went on to give credit to Buendia for coming back from a horrendous knee injury last season to fight his way back to prominance.
The manager added: ‘Everything that happened around him, he deserved it because he worked hard to recover his best form as a player like he had before he was here.
‘When we decided to keep him here, and he decided to stay here as well, I was confident he could get the numbers he is achieving.’
Elliott, meanwhile, was understood to have joined Villa on a deal that required him to make 10 appearances before the loan was made permanent.
He is halfway through those game requirements but it remains to be seen whether the player or club still view it as the right fit.
He scored for his new side in the Carabao Cup but is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League or Europa League so far.
Elliott did not even make the bench for Villa’s last win over Bournemouth before the international break so it will be interesting to see his involvement against Leeds this weekend.
