Aston Villa team news: Big 'opportunity' for £15.5m star after double Gerrard setback

Aston Villa’s failure to welcome Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur to the club has presented Morgan Sanson with another opportunity at Villa Park, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Steven Gerrard was appointed as the Midlands club’s head coach in November and he used the January transfer window to add reinforcements to his squad, but he was also made to contend with some frustrations before the deadline passed.

Sanson headed to Villa in a deal worth up to £15.5million just over 12 months ago, but the switch from French giants Marseille has not gone to plan.

Having penned a deal worth £48,000-per-week, the Frenchman has only been afforded six starts since heading for pastures new.

Two of those came following Gerrard’s appointment, but he has not been handed any game-time since being substituted in the comeback draw with Manchester United last month.

The 27-year-old hit the headlines as he reacted to his withdrawal by booting water bottles into the Villa Park crowd, leading to post-match questions from Gerrard.

Sanson assured Gerrard his outburst was due to an individual error handing the visitors a two-goal lead rather than the decision to substitute him and the midfielder also took to social media to apologise to Villa’s supporters.

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O’Rourke feels Sanson will be handed more opportunities to impress due to Gerrard missing out on signing Bissouma and Bentancur before the transfer deadline passed at the end of last month.

The journalist feels the inability to welcome either of the central midfielders to Villa Park has given the Frenchman a chance to stake a claim for a spot in Gerrard’s preferred line-up.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “Opportunity