Dean Smith compares Ezri Konsa to Aston Villa and Man Utd legend after England call-up

Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Dean Smith compares Ezri Konsa to club legend Paul McGrath

Dean Smith insists Ezri Konsa has huge potential and believes the defender shares some similarities to Aston Villa legend Paul McGrath.

Konsa earned his first senior England call-up this week after Brighton captain Lewis Dunk withdrew from Gareth Southgate's squad through injury. After joining Villa from Brentford in the summer of 2019, the centre-back has grown in stature in the Premier League under three managers, Smith, Steven Gerrard and now Unai Emery.

The 26-year-old has started every league game Emery has managed as Villa head coach, and played a key role in the club's turnaround under the Spaniard. Former Villa boss Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that Konsa has become feared by attackers.

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"I likened him to Paul McGrath, who is a god at Aston Villa to the fans," said Smith, a boyhood Villan himself. "When he broke into the team, I said he’s got traits that Paul McGrath had in terms of his reading of the game, how he makes the game look simple, how he makes defending look simple.

"McGrath got player of the year five years on the spin. Ezri is a long way from that at the moment, but he’s got so much potential because of the way he is. Our biggest thing we worked on with him was making him a really good defender.

"When he came to Villa, myself and John Terry said we want to make him the best defender we can. He has become a very, very good defender. I’m not sure too many attackers would want to play against him."

Konsa signed a new five-year contract with Villa in September. He was already tied down until the summer of 2026 but has now put pen to paper on an improved deal, which potentially prolongs his stay at the club by a further 24 months.

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