Aston Villa squad numbers revealed for the 2018/2019 Championship season
By Josh Tonti
On Friday, Aston Villa Football Club revealed its squad numbers for the upcoming season with a few surprising exclusions.
Villa released their squad numbers just in time for Monday’s match away to Hull City. The full list and press release can be found here.
2. Ritchie De Laet
3. Neil Taylor
5. James Chester
6. Glenn Whelan
8. Henri Lansbury
9. Scott Hogan
10. Jack Grealish
12. Jed Steer
14. Conor Hourihane
15. Mile Jedinak
16. James Bree
17. Keinan Davis
19. Andre Green
20. Birkir Bjarnason
21. Alan Hutton
23. Andre Moreira
24. Tommy Elphick
25. Gary Gardner
26. Jonathan Kodjia
27. Ahmed Elmohamady
29. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy
31. Mark Bunn
33. Matija Sarkic
37. Albert Adomah
Villa Verdict
Let’s jump into it as a few things stand out. Firstly, all four goalkeepers were given squad numbers, but not one received the No. 1 shirt. That seems to suggest there is some merit to the rumors that 27-year old Norway ‘keeper Ørjan Nyland is on his way to Villa Park.
Moreover, Nos. 4, 7, and 11 were left vacant as well, suggesting a further outfield transfer or two will be completed before the window closes. Axel Tuanzebe for the No. 4 shirt, anyone? How about a return of Robert Snodgrass at No. 7? Maybe a new striker can take over No. 11 or No. 13? What shirt would a new left back take over?
Ritchie De Laet was given the No. 2 shirt, which is interesting to me. For awhile, RDL was seen as 4th-choice for the right back position, behind Ahmed Elmohamady, Alan Hutton, and James Bree. I don’t think he’s Steve Bruce’s preferred option, but this is the second consecutive year he will wear the nominal fullback number.
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Plenty of youth players did not receive fixed numbers, which isn’t exactly unusual. Cal O’Hare, Mitch Clark, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Harvey Knibbs, Corey Blackett-Taylor, and Easah Suliman are all expected to make an appearance or two at minimum (some a lot more). They will receive numbers in the twenties and thirties when the time comes.
Aaron Tshibola, Micah Richards, and Ross McCormack all did not receive a kit number.