Aston Villa: The story on Liverpool midfielder Kevin Stewart

23-year old Liverpool defensive midfielder Kevin Stewart is keen to leave Anfield this summer. Aston Villa have been identified as one of the clubs interested in the player. Could Stewart operate as Mile Jedinak’s understudy?

Kevin Stewart finds himself on the peripheral of Jurgen Klopp’s future plans at Liverpool. As such, at the ripe age of twenty-three, he is keen to move away from Anfield in search of more regular playing time.

Aston Villa can certainly offer that, as can a number of Premier League teams chasing his signature. Brighton, Burnley, and Stoke City are just a few of the clubs said to be interested.

Stewart made a grand total of four Premier League appearances in 2016/2017, accumulating just sixteen minutes in the process. Other than four starts in cup competitions, the Liverpool midfielder is largely ignored by Jurgen Klopp.

Not to Klopp’s discredit, either, Liverpool is stacked in the middle with Emre Can usually filling Stewart’s preferred position of defensive midfielder.

Whereas Liverpool have Emre Can, Aston Villa have a very similar player: Mile Jedinak. Villa’s form with and without Jedink reveals just how vital Australia’s captain remains to the club. When Jedinak did not start, Aston Villa failed to win a single match in league play.

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That kind of form must change if Villa is to fight for promotion next season. Mile Jedinak will be 33 in August and tired from international play. Coupled with a string of muscular injuries he’s endured, it’s time for Aston Villa to find a suitable understudy.

Maybe that player is Jordan Lyden, maybe it’s Kevin Stewart, or maybe it’s another transfer target.

Kevin Stewart is a different form of defensive midfielder than Mile Jedinak. He’s significantly shorter than the bearded wonder – standing at just under six feet tall.

He’s very physical on the pitch which makes up for his lack of size. Moreover, his athleticism helps him chase attackers all over the defensive third. Before his arrival to Liverpool, Stewart was used primarily as a right back.

He’ll be 24 in August which is slightly concerning given his lack of experience in first-team football. He has never appeared in more than seven matches for one club in four separate loan spells.

In all, Stewart represents another chance for Villa to add talent to an important area of the pitch.

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