Image via Mikolaj Barbanell/Shutterstock
Matty Cash made his return from injury last night in Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Cash’s old club Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. This was his first match since he suffered a hamstring injury against Manchester City at the start of September.
Cash started the game a touch hesitantly, as you would expect for someone returning from injury, and although Villa fell behind there was nothing he could do at the set-piece to prevent it. He did contribute in a small way to the Villa equaliser, as he made an overlapping run which forced a teammate to switch the play to the opposite side of the pitch shortly before the equalising goal.
After the game was level again, Cash was one of the best Villa players on the pitch, always looking to get forward and putting decent crosses into the opposition penalty area. He was disciplined in his defending as well, rarely putting a foot wrong.
For the last 20 minutes Cash did start to look a little tired, which is again something you would expect of someone having to play a full match on their return from a muscle injury. Villa for the most part were completely blunt in attack, but Cash was one of a few players constantly trying to make things happen.
There may well be a new manager at Aston Villa if rumours are to be believed, and the away end certainly seemed to have turned after the final whistle last night. In any case, Cash will be assured of his place in the side. It’s worth mentioning that Steven Gerrard spoke in his post-match press conference about the possibility of going to a back three, which would certainly be advantageous to Jan Bednarek, on loan at Villa for the rest of the season.
Whether there is a managerial change at Villa or not, Cash will be looking for a strong month as he builds up fitness ahead of what you would assume will be a starting spot in the Polish national team at the World Cup. Czesław Michniewicz has been in constant contact with Cash as he has been in the recovery from the hamstring issue, so we can take it as read he will start against Mexico on the 22nd of November.
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