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Aston Villa’s Smith discusses Samatta and Betrand Traore omission in Sheffield United win

Mbwana Samatta was omitted from the Aston Villa squad that defeated Sheffield United 1-0 on Monday because of his performance in training, manager Dean Smith has confirmed.

The Tanzania captain alongside new signing Bertrand Traore did not feature in Smith’s 18-man squad as Ezri Konsa’s header gave them a flying start to the 2020-21 Premier League season at Villa Park.

Zimbabwe's Marvelous Nakamba and Egypt's Ahmed El Mohamady were unused substitutes in the fixture while Trezeguet played for the duration of the encounter.

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Nine months after his signing from Genk, Samatta faces an uncertain future in the West Midlands following the signing of Ollie Watkins from Brentford this summer.