Aston Villa March Loan Report: Tshibola shines in Scotland
By Josh Tonti
Better late than never! We track the progress of Aston Villa loanees across the month of March.
It might be mid-April, but that won’t stop us from filing the monthly March loan report. Let us check in on the progress of Villa players in: England, Scotland, Spain and Belgium.
GK – Pierluigi Gollini, 23, Atalanta B.C. / 1(0)
Forgotten goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini made one appearance for Atalanta in the month of March. On the final day, Gollini & Co. kept a Serie A clean sheet against Udinese, winning 2-0. Atalanta have fallen off-pace from their early season Europe aspirations, but they do currently sit 8th in the table. Having bailed out in Europe League competition in the group stage, Gollini is largely rooted to the bench behind incumbent starter Etrit Berisha.
CB – Tommy Elphick, 30, Reading F.C. / 0(0)
Elphick is still rehabbing from knee surgery. He is getting closer to a return, but at this stage in the season, it might be wise just to sit out.
RB – Ritchie De Laet, 29, Royal Antwerp F.C. / 1(1)
Ritchie De Laet played twice in March, the first as a halftime substitute against Eupen. Antwerp won that match, but lost the following week against Belgian powerhouse Anderlecht. De Laet went 58 minutes in that game and did not feature again until earlier this week in April.
CM – Gary Gardner, 25, Barnsley / 4(1)
Gardner enjoyed perhaps the best month of any Aston Villa loanee. He went the full ninety in four consecutive matches, grading well on WhoScored, during some Barnsley struggles. The club lost three of its five matches in which Gardner appeared, drawing the other two. Unfortunately for their supporters, the club is two points from safety with four matches to play. Can they help relegate Birmingham City into the drop zone with some points?
CM – Aaron Tshibola, 23, Kilmarnock / 3(0)
Tshibola started three league victories for Kilmarnock, overcoming, St. Johnstone, Ross County, and Rangers (!) in the process. Bonus football! Tshibola played 46 minutes in his international debut with DR Congo over the break.
AM – Carles Gil, 25, Deportivo La Coruña / 0(1)
Carles Gil played a grant total of six minutes in March. The diminutive Spanish playmaker came on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with Las Palmas.
Next: Aston Villa Secure Place In EFL Play-Offs
CB – Easah Suliman, 20, Grimsby Town / 1(0)
Tougher to track data in England’s fourth tier, but Suliman did play 53 minutes on March 10th. Grimsby Town drew Port Vale 1-1. He was a second half substitute. More note-worthy, however, is the fact that Suliman captained England under-20s into two victories over the international break, scoring in one of the affairs.