Football Insider claims Abraham should start ahead of Jackson after Coventry brace

Tammy Abraham's two goals in Aston Villa's 3-1 League Cup victory at Coventry City on Wednesday have prompted Football Insider to argue the forward should replace Nicolas Jackson as Unai Emery's starting striker. Abraham was handed his first start of the campaign for the third-round tie and proved decisive in securing a place in round four.

According to the outlet, the 28-year-old's clinical display means Emery cannot afford to return him to the bench immediately. Football Insider contends that Abraham must be favoured for a sustained run of matches while Jackson, who arrived from Chelsea late in the summer transfer window, continues to adapt to life at Villa Park.

Abraham has largely been deployed as a substitute during the opening weeks of the season. His performance at the Coventry Building Society Arena offered a reminder of his finishing ability, with the publication citing data showing three attempts, two on target, and five touches inside the opposition box.

The argument is underpinned by Villa's difficulties in front of goal domestically. The club have found the net only once in the Premier League so far, losing at home to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest while drawing at Hull City. Wednesday's cup win provided a timely lift, with Villa registering 18 shots and nine on target compared to Coventry's 15 and five respectively.

Jackson was confirmed as a Villa signing on 28 August, part of a busy end to the window that also saw Leon Goretzka and Taylor Harwood-Bellis arrive. With the market now closed until January 2027, Emery must work with the attacking options currently at his disposal.

Villa next face Tottenham Hotspur away in the Premier League on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 UK time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Emery will be looking for his side to translate their midweek momentum into a first league victory of the campaign.