Journalist Luke Hatfield has backed Matty Cash to "chip in" with goals this season following his recent changes in position.

What's the latest news with Cash?

Cash has proved a brilliant signing since joining in a £16m deal from Nottingham Forest last summer. In his debut Premier League season, he managed two assists in 28 appearances and quickly established himself as Dean Smith's first-choice right-back.

Ahmed Elmohamady had been Smith's number one right-back prior to Cash's arrival, but that soon changed.

He started Villa's opening three matches at right-back this season, but the return of Ollie Watkins against Chelsea saw Smith switch to a back-three, allowing Cash to move into a right wing-back role to try and support Watkins and Danny Ings up front.

And it didn't take long for Cash to reap the rewards from his positional change as he fired home his first Villa goal with a thumping finish against Everton earlier this month.

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ENTER GIVEAWAY

Cash has already managed five shots in just six games this term, which is only four fewer than he recorded throughout the whole of last season.

And Hatfield reckons that the 24-year-old could find himself on the scoresheet more often.

What did Hatfield say?

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He told GIVEMESPORT: "He'll certainly chip in. He knows where the back of the net is. He scored his first goal against Everton, that was a superb strike on his weaker foot. He's certainly capable of doing that. I don't think he'll be expected to score week in week out, but it does give him an opportunity to do that."

Does Cash have a history of scoring goals?

His current goal record in his career stands at 17 in 188 appearances across all competitions for Dagenham & Redbridge, Nottingham Forest and Villa combined, with his best return back in 2018-19 when he scored eight for the Reds.

However, just under half of those appearances came when Cash was playing in a back-four.
When he was given licence in a more advanced role for Forest, he chipped in with some crucial goals – scoring a brace against Norwich, getting himself on the scoresheet against Villa in a 5-5 draw at Villa Park and he even popped up with a last-minute screamer at West Brom in his final season.

Cash won't be expected to score regularly, but an extra few could go some way in helping Villa push towards the top-half.