Aston Villa: Which loan players have a future in the claret and blue?

Who of Aston Villa’s loan contingent will come back to the club with a realistic shot at competing for a place in the first team?

Often when players leave on a temporary basis, they are forgotten about, they drift to the back of supporters minds simply because they don’t represent the club anymore. But for now, they are still on Villa’s books, and will continue to be into the summer.

What are their chances next season?

Tommy Elphick: Went to Reading in January after Steve Bruce admitted that Elphick wanted to play regular football and that was something Villa couldn’t offer. The form of John Terry and James Chester ensured Elphick would never get sufficient matches, but Elphick did help the team to massive victories against Middlesbrough and Bristol City before the turn of the year. Could conceivably be brought back into the fold in the summer especially if Villa remain in this league. Terry/Samba are expected to go and Villa will be fighting Premier League teams off James Chester too.

Ritchie De Laet: Barely featured this year as Ahmed Elmohamady and Alan Hutton have been the first choice right backs. With Hutton expected to go, De Laet may move up the pecking order, but with James Bree also coming through, regular games for De Laet are unlikely. His future remains very much up-in-the-air and dependent on the futures of other defenders.

Gary Gardner: Currently doing well at Barnsley as they attempt to survive in the Championship. While Villa have a number of midfielders in front of Gardner at this stage, the summer could see a few departures as Josh Onomah goes back to Spurs, Mile Jedinak and or Glenn Whelan may leave and Jack Grealish and Conor Hourihane will be sought after. My honest opinion is that Gardner hasn’t kicked his last ball for Villa, even if I’m in the minority.

Aaron Tshibola: Another victim of Villa’s packed midfield options, Tshibola is on his second loan spell of the season (MK Dons and Kilmarnock) and is a player who Steve Bruce seemed to never trust. Will be departing the club this summer regardless of league.

More from Claret Villans

Carles Gil: Currently not getting a real look in at Deportivo and in any case it appears they have an obligation to buy Gil this summer so it seems he won’t play for Villa again. It’s a shame because apart from Grealish, this Villa squad lacks real creative guile and dribbling ability which Gil demonstrated in his short spell here.

Harry McKirdy: Has caught fire recently at Crewe, scoring in his last 2 matches. McKirdy is certainly an intriguing prospect, but time is running out for the 21-year old to make an impact. There are so many forwards/attacking midfielders ahead of him in the pecking order.

Easah Suliman: Scored for England’s U20 side recently, this centre back looks to have a bright future but has found game time hard to come by at Grimsby. May have a chance at some game time next season should Terry/Samba and Chester all leave.

Pierluigi Gollini: His two-year loan spell at Atalanta is coming to an end and considering he said he was happy to leave Villa. His time at Atalanta has been limited behind Albania ‘keeper Etrit Berisha. The only way Gollini remains with Villa is if a different manager comes in.

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