Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has included forward Evann Guessand in his matchday squad for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Manchester United, despite the player's recent call-up to the Ivory Coast national team for the Africa Cup of Nations.
A Surprise Inclusion Amid International Duty
The 24-year-old striker was a surprise name on the Villa bench at Old Trafford, given that he was summoned by the Ivorian football federation earlier this week. Guessand was initially placed on the standby list for the tournament but received a promotion to the main squad after experienced striker Sébastien Haller sustained an injury earlier in December.
However, in a boost for Villa, an agreement has been reached which allows Guessand to delay his link-up with the Elephants' squad. This special dispensation means he was available for selection against Manchester United before he is due to travel out to join his national team colleagues in Morocco, where the Ivorians are preparing for the continental championship.
Guessand's Recent Form and Fitness
The French-born attacker's last start for Villa came in the Premier League away at Brighton at the beginning of December. He subsequently missed the vital victory over Arsenal due to an injury concern. While he did not feature off the bench in last weekend's match against West Ham United, Guessand did start and score in the recent UEFA Europa Conference League fixture away to FC Basel in Switzerland, demonstrating his value to the squad.
What This Means for Villa and Ivory Coast
His temporary availability provides Unai Emery with additional attacking options for a crucial fixture, offering potential impact from the substitutes' bench. For the Ivory Coast, the arrangement shows flexibility, ensuring a key player gets competitive minutes before joining their AFCON campaign, albeit with a later arrival than the rest of the squad. All parties will be hoping Guessand departs for international duty both match-fit and without any further fitness issues.
