RIGHT MOVES

Unai experience keeps wins coming

- BY JOHN TOWNLEY

ASTON VILLA have balanced their European and domestic commitments better than any other Premier League club over the past year - and it comes as no surprise given Unai Emery's experience.

Since beating Brentford in the capital following a 3-1 win at Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie back in March, Villa have won all 11 matches played after a midweek European fixture.

Perhaps the most impressive of those post-European victories came last weekend at Newcastle, given the club's historically poor record on Tyneside and Villa's mounting injury problems.

John McGinn (right) and Youri Tielemans (below, right) are sidelined for six to eight weeks, while Boubacar Kamara is out for the season, prompting Emery to move quickly to bring Douglas Luiz back to the club on loan earlier this week.

Like Luiz, Tammy Abraham could also make his second debut for the club against Brentford this afternoon, having joined earlier this week in an £18million deal from Besiktas.

After a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over RB Salzburg on Thursday, Villa secured home second-leg advantages in the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals of the Europa League.