Bertrand Traore prediction made as Aston Villa winger handed iconic shirt number

BirminghamLive brings you the latest Aston Villa news as supporters spot Bertrand Troare's new shirt number

John Townley Aston Villa correspondent

07:52, 03 Feb 2023Updated 07:58, 03 Feb 2023

He's back! Bertrand Traore

Bertrand Traore has been recalled from a loan spell in Turkey by Unai Emery and will play a part in the second half of Aston Villa's season.

The winger was sent out to Istanbul Basaksehir by Steven Gerrard in the summer after he was deemed surplus to requirements in his squad. Traore scored two goals in 12 appearances for the Turkish club and will return to the Premier League with a point to prove under Emery, who is giving the 25-year-old a second chance at a club he joined for £17 million in the summer of 2020.

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Traore is currently injured, but when he returns he'll need to take confidence that he can reach the level of performance he managed in his first season for Villa, when he scored seven goals and assisted in a further seven. Now he has returned to Bodymoor Heath, he has been given the number nine shirt, according to the club's website.

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Villa fans have noticed his new shirt number on social media. Here's what is being said on Twitter...

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@AVFCStatto: So it looks like Bertrand Traore is Aston Villa's new number 9.

@danbardell: Well we wanted a new number 9, and factually we now have one.

@zeptepi_phil: Seriously happy to have him back, such a talent.

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@nelsonUSM: Unai must rate him.

@Jimmyco18963098: He actually played up top as a 9 and did well at Lyon.

@Gavthegroovy: Hopefully he gets a proper crack and has a good run for us. He has shown flashes of brilliance and clearly has skills to pay the bills! A run of games and some confidence will bring an edge of unpredictability to the lineup.

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@MrsB_1970: Always liked him. When he’s on it he’s on it. Bit like Bailey was - who’s now on fire under Emery.

@JoeSzwaba: Honestly, I always liked Berty. Inconsistent and mercurial, sure. But he always had moments of magic in him. Not dissimilar to Leon Bailey.

@Penrhyn_: I honestly have a feeling he’s going to surprise a lot of people.

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Will Traore make an impact in the second half of the season? Tell us in the comments section...

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