Brighton Aston Villa Opener: Emery’s New Teenage Threat
Albion’s first Premier League opponents may bring a new attacking threat to the Amex. Ahead of the Brighton Aston Villa opener a week on Sunday, 17-year-old striker Brian Madjo announced himself with a spectacular debut goal in Villa’s 2-1 UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris St Germain, The Argus reports.
Madjo, whose January move from Metz was held up by a protracted wrangle over FIFA rules, volleyed in at the far post in Salzburg to cancel out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s opener, before Desire Doue’s winner made PSG only the third club to retain the Super Cup after AC Milan in 1990 and Real Madrid in 2017. Boss Unai Emery also praised fellow teenager George Hemmings.
Brian played today because in pre-season he has showed his capacity to work. The reality is to keep being consistent and performing in the level they showed today.
Unai Emery
World Cup trio race towards the Brighton Aston Villa clash
Emery confirmed Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez and Ezri Konsa – given extended post-World Cup breaks – will be back in training at the weekend, though it is unclear whether that puts them in contention for the trip to Sussex. Villa visit Borussia Monchengladbach for a friendly on Saturday before their eight-day run-in to the opener.
The Seagulls, meanwhile, complete their own pre-season programme at home to Bologna on Saturday before attention turns to opening weekend against Emery’s men.
