Seven months after being jettisoned by Steve Bruce to Belgium, Ritchie De Laet has returned to the Aston Villa fold.
With Ahmed Elmohamady taking his time to get up to speed following the 2018 FIFA World Cup, former Belgium international Ritchie De Laet has filled in nicely at right fullback / wingback in his absence. De Laet, who made just 8 Aston Villa appearances from August until January, is looking for a permanent place within the squad this term after Steve Bruce sent him on-loan earlier in the year.
A versatile defender at heart, De Laet has filled several positions since his summer 2016 Villa arrival, but it’s been right back, and more interestingly right wingback recently, where he has seen the most action. Egypt international Elmohamady enjoyed a hot start with the claret and blue last season, registering three assists through the club’s first eight matches. But his campaign fizzled afterwards with just two assists in the remaining 38 matches and an injury scare before the play-off final.
With that said, right back is a position that should be strengthened, and perhaps there is an in-house option capable of providing that option.
De Laet starred in Villa’s 4-1 pre-season friendly victory over Walsall and 3-0 defeat of Telford. Moreover, he helped set-up Kodjia’s opener against Burton Albion:
It’s often forgotten, but De Laet was originally brought to Aston Villa from Leicester City as the assumed starting right back in August 2016. A subsequent ACL tear in his knee ruled him out very early that fall with just a handful of Villa starts under his belt. Still recovering from surgery, De Laet was not able to win over Steve Bruce the following summer. Coupled with the arrival of Elmohamady, the player had to settle for cup matches and a small handful of substitute appearances.
Then Axel Tuanzebe arrived on-loan from Manchester United and De Laet departed for his native Belgium with Royal Antwerp.
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But De Laet’s back now, and if his current pre-season form is any indication, the player could be in for a nice season with the LUKE 1977-outfitted claret and blue.