Unai Emery has highlighted Emi Buendia's resurgence as one of the reasons for Harvey Elliott's lack of game time at Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old completed an initial loan move to Villa Park from Liverpool on transfer deadline day, but has since featured just six times for the club.

As part of the deal, Villa are obliged to sign Elliott permanently for £35million should he make ten appearances this season.

However, the playmaker has not played in the Premier League since September, when he was brought off at half-time against Fulham, after making his only top-flight start all season .

And more recently, Elliot has found himself left out of Villa's matchday squads altogether.

He wasn't even named on the bench in their last match - a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth - as well

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