The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent Gregg Evans hopes that Keinan Davis is given a chance to play for the club as they attempt to avoid relegation to the Championship, per the 1874 podcast (March 12th, 36:45).

What’s the word?

Villa are 19th in the Premier League, two points behind Watford and safety.

Since the signing of Mbwana Samatta in the January transfer window, for £8.5m, the Tanzania international has made four appearances in the Premier League, scoring once, in the 2-1 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.

Davis, meanwhile, has played just 55 minutes in that time, having failed to complete 90 minutes in the top-flight. He has scored one goal this season, in the EFL Cup win over Crewe Alexandra.

And Evans believes that giving the 22-year-old a chance would be a good step for the Midlands club.

He said: “I think maybe it might be worth giving Keinan Davis a try upfront instead of Samatta. I’d like to see that personally.

“I’d like to see whether Davis holding the ball up and bringing others into play has any benefit. I just can’t see the two upfront.”

A punt

This might work but, equally, it might not.

Villa do have plenty of time on the training pitch given the suspension of the Premier League until April 3rd.

But Davis hasn’t really shown that he is the solution for a club battling relegation.

Did he really play for us?! No Villa fan has managed to name all of these obscure Villans….

The 22-year-old has made 57 first-team appearances as a professional and has scored four goals, with two of those coming in the Championship.

Samatta, at least, has some pedigree, having scored 76 goals in 191 games for KRC Genk before his move to Villa Park.

Evans is scrambling for solutions, much like Villa, but there is no guarantee Davis is the answer.

Meanwhile, Villa dare not sell this man!