---
title: "Aston Villa: Preece expecting Buendia to start vs Wolves"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-preece-expecting-buendia-to-start-vs-wolves/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-10-13T18:35:19Z"
modified: "2021-10-13T18:35:19Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Preece expecting Buendia to start vs Wolves

**Reliable Aston Villa reporter [Ashley Preece](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-wolves-21842196) is expecting Dean Smith to unleash Emiliano Buendia against Wolves this weekend.**

### The Lowdown: Buendia’s struggles

Buendia, who joined from Norwich City in a [club-record](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transferrekorde/verein/405) deal over the summer, hasn’t started a Premier League game since the end of [August](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/leistungsdaten/spieler/321247).

He’s made [six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/leistungsdaten/spieler/321247) appearances in all competitions under Smith, scoring his [first](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/leistungsdaten/spieler/321247) goal against Brentford but has had to make do with [substitute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-buendia/leistungsdaten/spieler/321247) cameos against Manchester United and Tottenham prior to the international break.

However, with Jacob Ramsey recently playing [90 minutes](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-wolves-21842196) for England Under-21’s in the week, Preece feels it could be time for Buendia to return from the off.

\[freshpress-poll id=”377083″\]

### The Latest: Preece’s predicted XI

Preece shared his predicted XI on [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-wolves-21842196) for the Villa Park meeting against Wolves.

When it came to naming three central midfielders in a 3-5-2 system, Preece went with Marvelous Nakamba, John McGinn and Buendia, with the latter picked ahead of Ramsey due to his international run out.

He went on to admit it would be a bold move knowing Buendia has struggled centrally in a Villa shirt.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375426″\]

### The Verdict: Correct

[Gregg Evans](https://theathletic.co.uk/2884119/2021/10/13/premier-league-which-player-at-your-club-should-be-getting-more-minutes/) also picked out Buendia as a player who should be getting more minutes, and this weekend feels like the perfect chance to give him another go.

The former Canaries playmaker, who Daniel Farke called [‘fantastic’](https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/canaries-ncfc-avfc-farke-emi-buendia-villa-transfer-8156522), wasn’t selected for Argentina duty this time around, so he should be chomping at the bit and ready to go.

Smith has had success in [September](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/spielplan/verein/405) with a 3-5-2 system, so Buendia needs to fit that mould, as it doesn’t look like that will be changing anytime soon.

***In other news: [Ashley Preece shares big under-the-radar Villa update on Leon Bailey.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/aston-villa/aston-villa-ashley-preece-makes-leon-bailey-claim/)***