De Laet’s Stalled Aston Villa Career

Having gone out on loan to Royal Antwerp in his native Belgium this week, Ritchie De Laet will no doubt ponder why his Aston Villa career has never and possibly will never take off.

After just a few games in to last season after signing from Leicester, he got a nasty season ending injury ruling him out for the whole course of the season. He looked bright in those few appearances at right back in Roberto Di Matteo’s attacking style of football.

De Laet was definitely on course to cement his spot in the team at the time: Alan Hutton seemed to be (not for the first time) out of Di Matteo’s plans. Considering Di Matteo bought De Laet, it was almost a guarantee he’d remain in the team for the long term.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 30: Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo looks on during the pre- season friendly between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough at Villa Park on July 30, 2016 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

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A manager change, a new right back brought in and a resurgent Alan Hutton is what greeted De Laet upon his return to group training with the Aston Villa first team during the summer. It was going to be a fight to reclaim the right back slot and that’s how it’s played out.

De Laet has been mainly used alongside the kids in cup competitions for his competitive football fix this season. This is evidence of how far his stock has fallen.

A few sub appearances in the league have shown glimpses of what he can add to that right hand side. He showed good effort and endeavour, a willingness to use his speed to get up and down the flank. As it played out, it was a shop window for other clubs to take a look at him.

I think it’s fair to say that the standard isn’t as high in Belgian football as it is in the Championship. Nonetheless, it gives him an opportunity to get some sustained game time close to home. It should improve his preparation for another inevitable fight to play when he comes back to Aston Villa in the summer.

Ahmed Elmohamady has been strong and consistent all season and has really nailed down his spot in the team. Alan Hutton, even though he has been filling in at left back, has looked as strong as ever. Also, James Bree has a bright future so it’s a case of wait and sees what happens with De Laet.

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