Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says Harvey Elliott needs time to adapt to his new club after hauling the summer signing off at half-time in the win over Fulham on Sunday.
The Villains got their first Premier League win of the season at the sixth attempt as they beat the Cottagers 3-1 at Villa Park.
Ollie Watkins cancelled out a Raul Jimenez opener to put the score level at half-time when Elliott was subbed off, replaced by Emiliano Buendia.
It proved an inspired move from Emery as Buendia provided an assist for John McGinn to put Villa ahead and then scored himself to make the game 3-1.
It turned out to be an excellent day for Villa, but Elliott may be feeling a little disappointed, with Emery telling the on-loan Liverpool man that he has work to do to adapt to his new team.
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‘Keep going, for him and I change him more tactically because Emiliano Buendia is giving us energy and his adaptation is better than Elliott,’ Emery said of the half-time change.
‘He needs time, Elliott. Emiliano did fantastic.’
It was a big day for Watkins, who netted for the first time this season after missing a penalty in the Europa League in midweek against Bologna.
On the England striker, Emery said: ‘He is very important for the team because he was not scoring goals. We needed goals through Watkins, Buendia and McGinn.
‘Today, with our supporters, we need to connect here and bring the energy. I think our results are bringing balance. We are not where we want to be but this result will hopefully help us get better. How the players are connecting and adapting is important.’
It is still a disappointing start to the season for Villa, with six points from six games, but it will be a big boost to the morale of the side ahead of a trip to Feyenoord on Thursday and then hosting Burnley on Sunday.
‘Happy and overall we kept the consistency we achieved on Thursday and we started today a little bit under our energy,’ said the manager. ‘We conceded one goal and it was again. a very difficult moment but reacted.
‘Winning duels and recovering the ball as high as possible and then we were being aggressive. I think today the result we did come back was through our energy and wishes to come back.
‘We draw three matches away and it was not the worst and as well not the best. I told you we were improving and getting better but we needed to improve things. Today we did it.
‘Of course, now, we are playing in Feyenoord on Thursday and we have the opportunity to get confidence and it is another opportunity and challenge. And then we can keep being consistent at home and keep adding more players in our structures.’
Explaining on-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho’s absence from the squad, Emery said: ‘Sancho was feeling sick before the game so that is why he was not on the bench but he will be important for us. We will add other players in as well with their qualities.’
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