Aston Villa team news: £4.5m star's 'shirt to lose' after making just 7 starts last season | OneFootball

Aston Villa reporter Ashley Preece reckons that Kortney Hause's place in Dean Smith's side is "his to lose".

Despite the loan signing of Axel Tuanzebe from Manchester United, Hause has been Smith's preferred choice recently, starting the last two Premier League games.

It was a tricky start to the campaign for the centre-back, who played just one minute in Villa's first five Premier League games.

However, with Tuanzebe unavailable to play against his parent-club last month, Hause was thrown in for the game at Old Trafford and took his opportunity with both hands by producing a fine defensive performance, topped off with the winning goal two minutes from time.

Hause wasn't able to replicate that display against Tottenham eight days later, but his WhoScored rating of 6.89 is the joint fourth highest in the Villa squad and only a touch below Douglas Luiz (6.99), who leads the way.

Despite Villa's defeat at Spurs before the international break, Hause has every chance of keeping his place in the starting XI for the Midlands derby with Wolves on Saturday.

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And Preece reckons that keeping himself in the team is now all down to Hause.

What did Preece say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "He always comes in and plays well, he said that in his Instagram post. I'm here when required, I'll always put it in. It's his shirt to lose now, so it's up to Tuanzebe, waiting in the wings. It's good competition to have."

Does Hause deserve to be starting?

Hause has been relatively faultless this season. In his four starts in all competitions, Villa have kept two clean sheets, conceded just four goals, and lost just once in 90 minutes and that includes trips to Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.

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That could be somewhat of a coincidence, but Villa have certainly looked defensively solid with the 26-year-old in their side.

Hause, valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, has already dealt with Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane this season, three of the most lethal marksmen in European football, so not much should faze the defender moving forward.