Due to his ongoing surgery from the hamstring injury he suffered at the end of the previous season, the Spaniard has not yet made an appearance for the first team this year.
Due to a setback in September, his return was further delayed, but since returning to group training with the senior squad last month, there have been encouraging signals in recent weeks.
Even though it has taken longer to see him play again, this week’s 63-minute game for Villa U21s against Swansea’s youth team was an important move toward helping him regain match fitness and sharpness following his extended absence and return to competitive play.
Hopefully, Moreno came through unscathed, and he’ll continue to train with the first team over the international break to prepare for a return later this month, or perhaps in early December.
Nevertheless, this was important progress for him to get back out on the pitch and get used to the intensity and tempo of a game environment again, and he’ll hopefully be able to feature off the bench in our upcoming games to give Unai Emery another key option.
Although Lucas Digne has done an excellent job in his absence at left-back, not only performing at a high level but also offering reliability and consistency in terms of his availability, there is no doubt that it will be an important boost for Villa and Emery to have Moreno back, pushing him for that starting spot.
The 30-year-old was an instant hit after his arrival in January, as he showed he can be an integral piece in Emery’s system and style of play with what he brings in the attacking phase through his speed, technical quality, and creativity.
Coupled with an improvement in his defensive work, it will be a real lift to have Moreno available again off the back of this crucial run out.
