Donyell Malen (ยฃ5.1m) scored twice as Aston Villa downed Burnley 2-1 on Sunday.
Here are our Scout Notes from Villa Park.
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MALEN CENTRAL
Donyell Malen proved the difference for Aston Villa on Sunday, as Unai Emeryโs side secured their fourth successive win in all competitions.
The Dutch international slotted home the first from Boubacar Kamaraโs (ยฃ4.9m) sumptuous pass.
He later added a second, having been picked out in the box by the influential Morgan Rogers (ยฃ6.9m). It wasnโt quite a carbon copy of the first, but not far off.
Against Burnley, Malen played as a second striker, providing support to Ollie Watkins (ยฃ8.7m).
It freed him up to play centrally and, importantly, much closer to the goal.
With Matty Cash (ยฃ4.6m) providing the necessary width and John McGinn (ยฃ5.4m) contributing additional support down the right, Emeryโs tactical plan worked a treat.
โWith Malen, he played more central and not defending on the right. We wanted to get the structure and John McGinn helped to play lower. Really, Malen played fantastic and he felt comfortable. He felt like he was in the position to help exploit his qualities. We are thinking in our structure and then adapting of them. We were trying to get one player to attack aggressively in behind. If we can get Malen close to the box, he has qualities and is a fast player to shoot and he is clinical. Today he showed it.
โHe was not getting physically some matches before, like against Sunderland and Feyenoord he had an action like today. Getting confidence and trying to give them positions on the field where they are really feeling better to exploit their qualities. Today he got it. Our demands are high demands. He always works well and has a commitment to try his best is there. Sometimes he performs better or worse. I spoke to him yesterday about the position I wanted him in today. He is one player more to help Watkins get to the opponent box. He did fantastic. The most important thing, like with Watkins not scoring, he still did his work.โ โ Unai Emery on Donyell Malen
Above: Aston Villaโs average position map v Burnley, featuring Donyell Malen (No 17)
WATKINS SUBBED EARLY/BOGARDE โOOPโ
With Malen on a hat-trick, Emery chose to substitute Watkins instead, as the England international lasted only 66 minutes at Villa Park.
Heโd previously squandered a decent chance to double Villaโs lead, shooting over from close range.
Villaโs form is starting to pick up, but with fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur (a), Manchester City (h) and Liverpool (a) after the international break, those who still own Watkins will surely be looking to move him on.
As for Rogers, he looked much sharper than in recent weeks. Itโs now back-to-back assists for the 23-year-old.
Elsewhere, ยฃ4.0m defender Lamare Bogarde impressed in central midfield, with Emery singling him out for praise in his post-match interview.
โHe has reacted fantastically and he is playing with confidence. He is adding us one player more as a midfielder and a centre-back. I think his best position is a midfielder.โ โ Unai Emery on Lamare Bogarde
On the injury front, Amadou Onana (ยฃ4.8m) and Ross Barkley (ยฃ4.8m) both made their respective returns as substitutes, but Emiliano Buendia (ยฃ5.3m) was forced off with a head injury late on.
CREATIVE HARTMAN
Burnley are yet to win a single point away from home in 2025/26, having conceded a league-worst 13 goals while playing on the road.
Quilindschy Hartman (ยฃ4.0m) is still finding ways to impress, however.
It was his excellent cross on Sunday that found substitute Lesley Ugochukwu (ยฃ5.0m), who powerfully directed his header into the net.
Hartman now boasts two assists in two matches, and he notably ranks joint-third among all Fantasy defenders for chances created over the last four Gameweeks (see below).
Heโs also joint-fourth in his position for expected assists (xA) during this period, with Leeds United (h) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) next up after the international break.
Elsewhere, Jaidon Anthony (ยฃ5.7m) had an early shot blocked but was largely ineffective and substituted off on 59 minutes, while central midfielders Josh Cullen (ยฃ5.0m) and Florentino Luis (ยฃ5.0m) both claimed defensive contribution (DefCon) points.
Florentino has now hit the DefCon threshold in each of his three starts for Burnley.
Hjalmar Ekdal (ยฃ4.0m), meanwhile, was absent from the matchday squad, with Scott Parkerโs post-match interviews failing to elicit an answer on his whereabouts.
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