Ollie Watkins’ omission from the starting line-up to face Tottenham was the headline takeaway when Aston Villa’s team news dropped on Sunday afternoon.

Only fit enough to start on the bench, Donyell Malen - who scored twice before the October break - led the line instead. But ask most Villa fans, and actually Lamare Bogarde’s absence would have raised a few eyebrows.

Signed for £50 million from Everton in last year’s summer window, Amadou Onana couldn’t have started his Villa career any better, scoring in each of the club’s first three away matches of last season against West Ham, Leicester City, and BSC Young Boys. Two goals followed that flurry - another against the Hammers, this time at Villa Park in the FA Cup from a set-piece - before he crashed in an effort against Newcastle United back in April, similar in some ways to his drive at Young Boys seven months prior.

Although Villa need more goals from around the pitch, with only Watkins and Morgan Rogers recording more than 10 goal involvements last term, Unai Emery is trying...