Nikola Milenković

But that, that moment, in that moment, it looked like a makeshift back three, which is exactly, um, what it, what it was.

Ideally, he would have played, uh, I think Murillo, Milenkovic and, and, and Djiku.

So-- and, and that's, that's where, that's where he's at this moment in time.

Di- Diomande's come in for big money on big wedge, but off the back of the emergence of Djiku and possibly a slight lack of fitness he's had to earn and, and wait for his chance.

Uh, I don't think that combination of three was anywhere near Glasner's thoughts, um, at the start of the season.

And let's hope we can have a clean bill of health for those four as quickly as possible so we can pick the best three on form and the profile of the opposition.

Um, just on the injury front, uh, Glasner said, uh, he basically ruled Milenkovic out of Coventry and he said Cunha was

wasprobably 50-15.

I think Neco Williams is well worth consideration as well.

And credit to Forest, because they've picked up injuries in this, to Milenkovic and Jeremiah Akunnike-

Yep

... on the eve of this.

But it's the same thing with Ola Aina.

If you are an owner, you're now getting a little bit nervous about this.

Wait and see what the info is on Milenkovic and Jeremiah Akunnike, 'cause Jeremiah Akunnike had started the season well as well.

He might have even got called up to the Brazil squad.

agree.

Hopefully Milenkovic is only out for a week, although he's got a job getting back in at the moment.

We've got Coventry next.

And I don't really see why we'd make a lot of changes, to be honest.

Just for Ben Johnson,

the

last thing I'll say on Diamande, the biggest compliment I can give him is that we didn't miss Milenkovic yesterday.

I thought Diamande ran back and he controlled him.

He was so solid in there.

And do you think that, I mean, it sounds like from what Glasner said post-match that Milenkovic is going to miss the Coventry match as well.

Do you think that the big Serb might have a little bit of a battle on his hands to get that middle centre-back position back?

Yeah, maybe.

I think Milenkovic has not been as great in a three as he was in a two when he was partner in Murillo.

So I think he is going to have to step up if he doesn't want his spot to be taken.

But then at the same time, he's a leader at the back.

Rhys, I'm going to start with yourself because this seems to be a reoccurring theme when we go to Villa Park, although not as bad as the last couple of seasons.

But Nicola Milenkovic and Jair Cunha, a newly Brazilian call-up for Jair Cunha, were... absent from the starting line-up and travelled with the squad but weren't involved, leaving Ola Aina to deputise at right centre-half, Ousmane Diamande controlling the central of the back three and Daniel Munoz getting a first start, which we actually thought Daniel Munoz would probably get a first start regardless of this.

But what did you make of that line-up and that news? Because it just always seems to be, as we've always said about this curse that goes into Villa Park, there's always something that's gone on.

regardless of our squad.

I thought Diamande did really well as well, to say it was his debut.

I think the odd minutes we have seen him, he's looked a little bit rusty, so that was really good.

And I guess the positive is we didn't miss Milenkovic or Kuna.

I think Milenkovic's form has been a bit ropey for a while, personally, so...

Rhys, I'm going to start with yourself because this seems to be a reoccurring theme when we go to Villa Park, although not as bad as the last couple of seasons.

But Nicola Milenkovic and Jair Cunha, a newly Brazilian call-up for Jair Cunha, were... absent from the starting line-up and travelled with the squad but weren't involved, leaving Ola Aina to deputise at right centre-half, Ousmane Diamande controlling the central of the back three, and Daniel Munoz getting a first start, which we actually thought Daniel Munoz would probably get a first start regardless of this.

But what did you make of that line-up and that news? Because it just always seems to be, as we've always said about this curse that goes into Villa Park, that there's always something that's going on.

regardless of our

I thought Diamande did really well as well, to say it was his debut.

I think the odd minutes we have seen him, he's looked a little bit rusty, so that was really good.

And I guess the positive is we didn't miss Milenkovic or Kuna.

I think Milenkovic's form has been a bit ropey for a while, personally, so...

that we actually showed some real mental fortitude and continue to fight for the win.

Yeah, I mean, look, Nikola Milenkovic and Jerkin, you're both absent.

So when the team news broke, immediately...

They're not, as you mentioned, not in the squad at all.

There's still a little bit of a question mark over Murillo.

I mean, today I just felt that he, at times, just didn't look like he was completely at it.

And he gave away that needless foul as well in the second half in that dangerous area outside the box that Milenkovic had been guilty of in previous games.

And it just felt to me that...