As part of a grander scheme in trimming the squad, Aston Villa are set to move several highly-rated youngsters away on loan in 2017. Steve Bruce’s veterans will have to carve a larger role for themselves.
Not atypical to other English clubs, Aston Villa will loan several youngsters away in search of first team experience. The lower levels of England’s League One, League Two, and National League are littered with teenagers from large parent clubs, as well as older professionals.
Let’s take a look at which players might not feature in the first team picture this year.
GK – Matija Sarkic (19)
Sarkic spent a large part of 2017 as Aston Villa’s number two when Mark Bunn was out injured. That experience, being in the matchday 18, can only help in the development of a teenage goalkeeper. Sarkic, at best, is the number three currently, but it’s looking more likely he’s the number four on the depth chart.
Mark Bunn recently signed a one-year extension to remain at Aston Villa.
Gd trip with the boys, last day then back home pic.twitter.com/z5HfOap1P5
— Mark Bunn (@MBGKA) July 10, 2017
Sam Johnstone and Jed Steer figure to battle it out as well. Therefore, a loan move is most certainly on the table for Sarkic, who turns 20 in late July.
CB – Easah Suliman (19) & Kevin Toner (20)
Kevin Toner spent time playing in the Premier League in the spring of 2015. Suliman, however, has yet to make his professional debut. Suliman is a starter for England U-19s currently so his talent is recognized domestically. With four distinguished center backs ahead on the totem pole (Chester, Terry, Baker, Elphick), a loan move seems inevitable for at least one of these two central defenders.
Next: Sam Johnstone RETURNS to Aston Villa
ST – Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (18)
Likewise, Hepburn-Murphy falls into the “too many players ahead of me” category. Playing time is going to be impossible to find for all of: Kodjia, Hogan, McCormack, Gabby, Keinan Davis, and RHM in the attack.
Not to mention the wide forwards in Albert Adomah, André Green etc.
With a full pre-season to recover from injury, now is the time for RHM to play, play a lot, and score big. A League One side lacking in the striker department is the perfect place for RHM to develop in 2017/2018.
Wild Cards: DEF – Jacob Bedeau (17), ST – Keinan Davis (19), RW/LW – Corey Blackett-Taylor (19)
Stay tuned to see which develop at the U-23 level, and which move away on-loan.