Is Garnacho already at a crossroads at Villa?
Alejandro Garnacho joined Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea with a view to kick-starting his career, but his early weeks in the Midlands have been a struggle.
Just like last season, questions are being asked about Alejandro Garnacho.
Two months after joining from Chelsea on an initial loan, the winger has yet to convince Aston Villa boss Unai Emery of his worth.
The Argentina forward has played just 31 minutes for Villa, spread across three substitute appearances.
A 15-minute outing against Hull is the most time he has spent on the pitch in a game.
Garnacho has been an unused substitute for Villa's past four matches , watching from the bench again as they won 3-2 at Tottenham on Saturday.
One goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for Chelsea last term fell below what the Blues expected from their £40m recruit from Manchester United, so he was allowed to move on.
This campaign is only a month old, but 22-year-old Garnacho could be at a crossroads at Villa Park already.
Emery likes to ease new players into his teams.
Youri Tielemans did not start a Premier League game until November 2023 after joining in the summer, but became an integral part of Emery's machine.
Only Joao Gomes, out of 10 new summer signings, started Villa's opening Premier League game. Just two - Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson - started the next.
Garnacho's situation feels extreme though, having been left on the bench for the Carabao Cup win at Coventry when Emery made seven changes.
Academy product George Hemmings, who joined Villa from Forest as a teenager, has started the season well to earn Emery's full trust and start ahead of Garnacho.
Ibrahim Mbaye, a £47m arrival from Paris St-Germain, made his first Villa start in the 3-1 victory at Coventry and is also preferred to Garnacho for now.
A facial injury in early August hampered Garnacho's pre-season and meant he missed the Super Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain, adding to the complications.
Emery needs his players to understand their roles and his methods before having full faith in them and he expects Garnacho to catch up.
"Continue working. Work, work, train, work," Emery said when asked about Garnacho's absence from the pitch.
"When he can have minutes to play, try to play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
"George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well and is giving us things I want. [Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well.
"We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs."
Garnacho, who first made his name as a livewire teenager, has shown in the past he can torment defences at Premier League level.
He spoke about needing time to adapt to a "different club and a different place" at Chelsea.
A further season of struggle would be a significant setback.
Emery is clearly yet to be convinced by what he sees in training, despite being a long-term Garnacho admirer.
Villa wanted more pace in their side and Crysencio Summerville was considered before he moved to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal.
Chelsea's £117m signing of Morgan Rogers from Villa left a gap for Emery to fill and Garnacho was available. A positive relationship between the clubs allowed for easy discussions.
Striker Jackson also joined from Chelsea for a Villa club record £65m and there have been eight deals between the clubs in the past four years.
Shadow of Elliott loan hangs over Villa
Garnacho did not train with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea squad before leaving for Villa Park in July.
Roma were interested in the winger, but their loan offer did not suit Chelsea. Instead, Villa's deal gives the Blues the chance to make their money back after last year's outlay.
There is an obligation to buy tied into the loan that is believed to relate to appearances, and it is expected to be achievable - but that does not guarantee anything.
For instance, Harvey Elliott would have triggered a move worth £35m if he made just 10 Premier League appearances last season. As it turned out, the Liverpool loanee - now at Valencia - was used just four times by Villa in the top flight.
Emery did not feel the 23-year-old was good enough and made up his mind not to sign Elliott permanently just a couple of months into the season.
It raised the question for some within the game about whether a loan at Villa should be viewed with caution, and whether other players' careers could be derailed in the way Elliott experienced.
It was accepted that Elliott's options this summer were not as extensive following his season at Villa Park.
