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Steven Gerrard stance on Morgan Sanson as Aston Villa manager's comments prove ruthless streak

Aston Villa's Morgan Sanson could be recalled to Steven Gerrard's starting XI for Watford's visit to Villa Park this weekend

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Sanson

Steven Gerrard has already confirmed that he intends to shuffle the pack for Aston Villa's clash against Watford this weekend following a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday.

The Villa head coach was frustrated with his side's performance at St James' Park and has vowed to demonstrate his ruthless streak in swapping out players who failed to show up on Tyneside at the weekend.

Gerrard said: "I need to think hard and to analyse this performance in closer detail.

"I believe there will be changes to the team. That's only normal after a performance like that and everyone needs to be ready next week."

One change that Gerrard could choose to make is to recall Morgan Sanson into the midfield.

The 27-year-old joined Villa in January 2020 and has been frustrated with the minutes he has been given on the pitch.

He has started two games under Gerrard, but hasn't featured in the last three games against Everton, Leeds and Newcastle.

But Gerrard revealed to BirminghamLive last month that the midfielder is firmly in his plans for the rest of the season.

"The first time that I met Morgan personally, I could see someone who was pretty down, who was pretty frustrated in terms of how his Aston Villa career had gone up until that point," he said.

"So it was very much the case of sitting down with Morgan, having that one-to-one, that face-to-face, giving him that clean slate, guaranteeing him that he will get the support and the care that he needs.

"I also assured him that I had seen enough of him, I competed against him for Rangers in a friendly, I watched Marseille quite a bit so I was very much aware of Morgan in terms of his quality, and it was about giving him a fresh start.

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"He's obviously had to isolate since that, which was a bit of a small step back, but to be fair to him he has been working ever so hard and he's still pushing to get 100% fit.

"His training performances, his cameo performances and his first start for Chelsea for me have been really impressive and strong, so he's going to be one who will compete for one of those midfield slots and I can only see him getting better and better with the more games he gets under his belt.

"That was just very much the case of resetting him and giving him a fresh start and trying to get a new manager bounce and I think he's pushing for that."

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