Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterBrian Madjo twice headed wide as Aston Villa battled for an equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg on Wednesday night.The 17-year-old is used to waiting. Madjo signed for Villa from Metz in January but has been unable to play. Despite being from London, the former Luxembourg internationals registration was restricted until he turned 18.In the midst of a pre-season campaign in which hes featured regularly and scoring goals, Madjo was freed up when the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a Villa appeal. He made his overdue competitive debut in the UEFA Super Cup.George Hemmings is thriving in a new positionMadjo eventually got his goal, bullying one of the best defenders in Europe at the back post to thump home from John McGinns cross, but rewind the move by one more pass and youll find the biggest positive of the night from Villas perspective.Midfielder George Hemmings, now 19, came to the fore last summer. Villas first friendly was against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium and Hemmings immediately caught the eye. You may like Aston Villa move for Alejandro Garnacho is a game of risk and reward its a sign of Unai Emerys faith in his methods 'English player allowed to play in England' - Aston Villa players poke fun at FIFA as club save millions with legal ruling Aston Villa set to sign out-of-favour Chelsea winger: report He continued in that vein all summer and did so with various partners in the double pivot favoured by manager Unai Emery. The teenager was kept with the first team while others went on loan and made four appearances off the bench including one start in the Europa League.Hemmings struggled in that start against Red Bull Salzburg but has been redeployed this summer and has been consistently impressive. Friendlies dont count for much but performing in a Super Cup match against back-to-back Champions League winners PSG crystallised his shift into Villas three attacking midfielders in style.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The former Nottingham Forest youngster did everything against PSG that hes been doing in his friendly appearances. His move up a line, primarily but not exclusively to the left wing, has unlocked a whole new battery of skills.Hemmings looks a different player when he gets the ball out of his feet and carries the ball into green space, as he did in the first half in Salzburg.His link play in the attacking third is more polished than anything he produced from central midfield suggested and hes a threat, too. He was as close as anyone to scoring a second Villa equaliser against PSG. What to read next Arsenal prioritise Morgan Rogers transfer with Aston Villa backed into a financial corner Three brand new wonderkids FourFourTwo can't wait to see in the Premier League this season The Europa League final isn't now-or-never for Aston Villa but time is running out for a beloved team The teenager has been used on the right this summer even with McGinn available, but its clear that Emerys preference for him now is to play from the left in the role that brought the best out of a resurgent Emi Buendia in 2025-26.Buendia has moved into the 10 after the British transfer record sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea but played the same way he always has. It was Hemmings who got at PSG, Hemmings who connected the play and Hemmings, ultimately, who did the lions share of the work left behind by Rogers, in both boxes and everywhere in between.Whats planned for Hemmings this season isnt clear. The arrival of Swiss international Johan Manzambi will affect how Villa configure their three off the striker and Hemmings is behind the newcomer in terms of his development as a first team-ready player.But whatever Emery has in mind, Hemmings rather familiar performance might well have sharpened the managers faith in his promising youngsters in advance of whats sure to be a busy and difficult season.TOPICSAston VillaSuper CupChris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
