Aston Villa season in review: Andre Green, Keinan Davis, and RHM

In our final installment of the series, we analyze three youth players with hopefully massive futures at Aston Villa Football Club. André Green, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, and Keinan Davis all featured in the first team, despite being under the ages of 20.

When I think on the future of Aston Villa, I envision a starting lineup filled with young, talented, homegrown stars in the ilk of Europe’s top feeder clubs. Ajax, Southampton, and Barcelona all come to mind.

I’m not being a homer when I say Aston Villa have really talented players coming up through the academy currently. The three I want to discuss right now all made several appearances with the first team in the Championship.

LW/RW – André Green, 18; ST – Keinan Davis, 19; ST – Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, 18

We covered André Green here extensively. Two months ago, I stated it was time to hop on the hype train. Of the three above, Green featured the most with 440 minutes of professional football in the second division. Though he did not record a goal or assist, Green threatened in every match he started. Most notably, striking the crossbar twice in two appearances.

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There’s every chance Green is the incumbent starter on the left side next season. Green is best utilized under a 4-3-3, but has the athleticism and discipline to star in a 4-4-2.

Moreover, he can play right wing, as well as underneath or alongside a central striker.

Keinan Davis was playing for a non-league side just 12 months ago. He made it all the way from Biggleswade Town to playing against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup 3rd-round in one year’s time. Undoubtedly, Davis is very raw in terms of skill set. However, he grew in his short cameos – ending in a 44 minute appearance on the final day of the season.

Perhaps no one in the Villa system possesses a higher ceiling than Keinan Davis; he has the ability to grow quickly.

Conversely, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is on the other side of the spectrum. Hepburn-Murphy notoriously made his Premier League debut at 16 under Tim Sherwood. Now entering his age 19 season, Hepburn-Murphy is hoping to push Scott Hogan for a place in the starting lineup in Jonathan Kodjia’s absence.

Through injury, RHM made just 3 substitute appearances for 24 minutes.

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Hepburn-Murphy stalled a bit in the past two years, but his record for the youth teams is unmistakable. RHM has every quality to likewise be a star in the Premier League someday. Hopefully, with Aston Villa.

2017-2018 Prediction: André Green has every chance to become a household name in Villa circles. However, Keinan Davis and RHM face stiffer competition for places in the first team. Much still depends on incoming transfers and pre-season training.

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