Few Aston Villa fans - if any - would have expected Emi Buendía to be making key contributions in Unai Emery’s side this season.

But these are the stories all football fans love. There is much to admire about the diminutive playmaker’s attitude, even if showcasing his quality in claret and blue has been too infrequent.

To understand why, let’s rewind more than 26 months. On the eve of the 2024/25 season, Buendía suffered an ACL injury that ended his campaign before it even began. Weeks earlier, many had tipped him to play an important role in Villa’s season, which included a return to European football - a feat he had helped the club achieve in Emery’s first months in charge.

That crushing blow meant he missed an entire season of Villa’s progress, as the club climbed the Premier League table and edged out Tottenham to finish fourth.

Last season, Buendía’s only moment for Villa came against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, where he scored the winner at Adams Park. Soon enough, it seemed that...