We're delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist.
Each week he'll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park.
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Alan Hutton believes the ball is in Youri Tielemans' court amid an alleged bust-up with Aston Villa manager Unai Emery over his future at B6.
Football Insider reported on 11 October that Tielemans, 26, has told his inner circle he wants to leave Villa Park in January despite signing for the Villans on a four-year deal in the summer after being released by Leicester City.
Emery is yet to start Tielemans in the Premier League while his only starts have been in a Carabao Cup loss to Everton, a Europa Conference League defeat to Legia Warsaw and European wins over Hibernian and Zrinjski Mostar.
Tielemans has struggled to impress and while the Belgian midfielder's "future is in doubt", Hutton believes that it's down to him to prove to Emery he can play he wants him to play before he starts getting more minutes.
"If you're not playing, it's about having to go and show the manager you're capable of doing that.
"He's had opportunities and unfortunately, some of the games he's been in haven't gone Aston Villa's way.
In the European games, the performances haven't been what Emery would want.
"I'll say the ball's in his court.
"When the manager has asked you to play a certain way or to do a certain job, if you can't go on the pitch and do that, you won't play.
If there comes a time when you're doing well in the training, you're working hard and you're given the minutes, he'll play you.
"It's up to Tielemans.
"You can moan about not having enough minutes as much as you want but your job is to show your manager you're capable of doing it.
"In other Aston Villa news, thanks to Celtic, there's excitement the Villans could be about to sign the next "superstar" of football.
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