Aston Villa's 'benchwarmers' are stepping up at the best possible time

Through the build-up to Nicolo Zaniolo's equaliser, you could see the Italian's belief in his abilities grow.

He strode forward towards the box with an awkward jog, which transformed with each step forward. As one leg went ahead of the last, it hit the floor stronger and faster than the one prior. In seconds, the forward changed from someone charging the box to play the role of an extra, to someone metamorphosing into a game changer - that stride acting as the chrysalis. In seconds it goes from ‘not him’ to ‘he was always going to score’ and the look he carried after bagging that equaliser against West Ham today defied anyone (basically everyone) who denied that he could make a difference for Villa on the pitch.

In prior games, Zaniolo looked as though he was just a man trying to get some steps in. And it only took seconds for that to change and perspectives to warp against West Ham. An injection of interest, enough to keep eyes on the game instead of slipping away to phone screens or other distractions, as they so often do for viewers of these 'typical' away games that seem to glide out of Villa's control with every passing second.

And Zaniolo isn't alone.

Moussa Diaby has cut the image of frustration ever since a lightning strike start to the season led to a neverending place on the bench for Villa. 9 goals + assists wouldn't be sniffed at in any other season than this one, where Villa's players including Ollie Watkins (26 league goals & assists), Leon Bailey (16 G + A), Douglas Luiz (14 G + A) have feasted up front.

Diaby's stats aren't to be ignored, nor his ability dismissed - but the truth is that his impact was largely confined to a pocket of time that was well protected from the intensity of now. The majority of his end-product was delivered between August and October, in games where Villa were either being crushed (Newcastle) or crushing (Brighton). A highlight recently came alongside Jhon Duran against Ajax Amsterdam, with Diaby's goal coming with the sense that a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

His impact, as distant as it is, remains leagues above that of Zaniolo who has now doubled his goal tally in the league this season to 2. Both came, ironically, at incredibly important times. A last minute equaliser against Sheffield United now followed by this needed equaliser at West Ham.

If the season ended right now, you'd find reason to be disappointed with the output of both - two expensive players who combine to offer less than existing talents at the club. But the season isn't over, and there's so much left to be written before we write off.

Another 'reserve' who knows a lot about being written off is Clement Lenglet, who despite some errors here and there, has allowed Villa to remain somewhat steady at the back despite every single one of his defensive partners succumbing to an injury this season.

Despite Diaby blowing a little cold, Zaniolo offering very little and Lenglet struggling with consistency in his ever-changing role at the back, you get the feeling that in a beleaguered Villa team that is missing starters due to suspension and injury, that the crew of benchwarmers is starting to really step up.

And it's the right time for it. Villa are looking at a dogfight to see out the season in one of the Premier League's Champions League spots (placing in the top 5 should secure it this season) - and they've got a tough lineup of teams in the Europa Conference League should they go all the way. A quarter-final against Lille will lead to a semi-final against either Fenerbahce or Olympiacos as one of Fiorentina/PAOK/Plzen/Brugge lie waiting at the final in Athens.

It's going to be a tough few months now, and we might even wave goodbye to one, or two, of these players.

Lenglet and Zaniolo's time at Villa may come to an end in May, and ideally it ends with that Conference League silverware: and potentially permanent moves to Birmingham that will keep a good squad together. Diaby's locked in for years at Villa and will look to follow former fellow Bayer Leverkusen winger Bailey by becoming an undroppable, unstoppable talent at Villa Park. He's shown the signs.

Whether they have a temporary contract, or a permanent one, their role for this run-in is obvious. Keep on carrying on, or step up and do a job now, or not at all.

And while Diaby has plenty of time on his side to write his story at Villa, Lenglet and Zaniolo face a do-or-die run in to write their names into Villa folklore.

With another dramatic equaliser in the bag, you'd start to think something other than simply fading away is on the cards for Zaniolo, who has it in his power to turn around a disappointing season with the most dramatic of finishes.

And if he doesn't, Villa's other players will do the job for him - as they have done so all season long.