Aston Villa latest news: Emiliano Buendia could be dropped against Watford this afternoon

Journalist Pete O’Rourke reckons that Emiliano Buendia could be dropped for Aston Villa’s game with Watford this weekend.

The record signing, who joined for £33m from Norwich last summer, has started the last eight matches in all competitions, but O’Rourke believes his luck might run out for the visit of the Hornets.

According to WhoScored, the Argentina international has been Villa’s seventh-best player this term, but it really has been an inconsistent season for Buendia.

In his 21 league appearances, the winger has scored just twice and laid on three assists, although the 25-year-old has only found the net once in his last 18 outings: the winner against Everton earlier this month.

Buendia was named man of the match in the 1-0 victory at Goodison Park but was unable to back up that performance against Leeds or Newcastle.

Against the Toon Army, he was rated as Villa’s fourth-best performer on the day but completed just one successful dribble and contributed only one key pass as Steven Gerrard’s side slipped to a 1-0 defeat. As a result, Buendia was replaced by Leon Bailey in a double substitution late on, which also saw Danny Ings introduced.

Both Bailey and Ings will be hoping to earn a place in Gerrard’s starting XI when Watford visit Villa Park this weekend, and O’Rourke reckons that Buendia could make way.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “He might find himself in a bit of danger. He’s been given the nod ahead of Danny Ings in recent weeks.”

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Buendia has shown glimpses in a Villa shirt, but he hasn’t really done enough to warrant a starting place on a regular basis.

Across the last eight games, Buendia has contributed just two goals and isn’t exactly