Emery has the best of intentions in effort to arrest slide

MANAGER Unai Emery insists his selection will be based on what's best for the team ahead of Villa's crucial clash against Sunderland tomorrow.

- By JOHN TOWNLEY

Villa head to the Stadium of Light still searching for their first Premier League victory and first goals of the season, having failed to score in each of their opening four matches.

Harvey Elliott did end their goalscoring drought in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, but Villa were ultimately eliminated from the competition via a penalty shootout.

The likes of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins have come under fire for Villa’s lack of goals in the opening month of the season, particularly given they combined for 42 goal involvements in the league last term.

“Every player (has) to work and to feel important in the squad,” said Emery when asked about Rogers especially. “Rogers, how he's progressing, how he did his progression here, really is fantastic, and still the same challenge he has. He has this challenge, to continue improving and keeping the level he had last year.