Of the numerous players to arrive at Aston Villa this summer, one who’s quickly made an impression is defender Bjorn Engels.
The Belgian international joined the Villains in a £7m deal from Reims and has played 90 minutes in their first three Premier League games.
His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Engels earning plenty of praise and catching the attention of Belgium manager Roberto Martínez.
It seems he was in line for his first call up to the national side, but an injury has now scuppered that, with Martínez telling Het Laaste Nieuws about the injury and describing it as a ‘shame’.
“Aston Villa has told us that Engels is struggling with some ailments,” he told the newspaper.
“Look, in the Premier League, you are immediately tested in two positions: as a central defender and as a centre forward. Engels creates more competition at the back.”
It is indeed a shame for Engels, with these comments from Martínez suggesting he had him in his plans for this international break.
On the bright side, now he’s in the Premier League he’s in Martínez’s eye line, and if he continues performing as he has been, it won’t be long before he’s making his international debut for the Red Devils.
