Sign up NOW for our daily Villa newsletter direct to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Steve Bruce handed on-loan Manchester United man Axel Tuanzebe his Aston Villa debut in the 3-2 victory over Burton Albion.

A game against the Championship’s basement boys appeared a walkover on paper but Burton refused to lie down and presented Villa with one of their toughest tests of this six-game winning run.

Scott Hogan, Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish ensured Tuanzebe’s Villa bow ended in victory. Here’s how his afternoon unfolded.

Where did he play?

Tuanzebe waited on the touchline for what seemed like an age after Stephen Clemence gave him the initial call to finish his warm-up in front of the Trinity Road Stand.

Despite arriving back and receiving instructions from goalkeeping coach Gary Walsh - who offers out set-piece advice amongst other things for substitutes - just past the hour, Tuanzebe didn’t actually get on the field until 67 minutes had past. Tuanzebe replaced Robert Snodgrass with Ahmed Elmohamady shifting to right wing, allowing the 20-year-old to slot in at right-back.

How did he get on?

Tuanzebe looked relatively solid and ticks a lot of boxes. He certainly looks athletic and managed to handle the speedy Lloyd Dyer a little better than Elmohamady had done before his introduction.

He played a key role in Villa’s third and decisive goal by galloping down the right and teeing up Elmohamady to cross for Grealish to volley home.

poll loading Where will Aston Villa finish in the Championship this season? 28000+ VOTES SO FAR Champions Runners up Play offs 7-12 Bottom half

As you would expect from a player who has honed his skills at Carrington since his school days, Tuanzebe possesses plenty of poise and class on the ball. He kept things simple as Villa looked to hold onto their lead late on.

With this first taste of action in claret and blue out of the way, Tuanzebe will be looking to secure more first team minutes. Where those minutes will come isn’t quite clear but Bruce has already admitted that Tuanzebe has joined Villa to play a leading role, not a supporting one.

What they said...

Assistant boss Colin Calderwood faced the media post-match and discussed Tuanzebe’s debut.

“In a short period on the pitch he’s obviously got a lot of learning to do with relationships within a back four and people in front of him," he said. "We’ve got about six, seven days before the next game at home and the experience of training together will help him.

“I think he’s versatile. We’ve seen him play all across the back four and in centre midfield. I think that versatility is a terrific asset for us and for him at the minute.”