Jed Steer, uber talented, never earned his Villa chance, leaves for Charlton

In all likelihood, we have seen the end of Jed Steer’s Aston Villa career. The 25-year old shot-stopper was loaned to Charlton Athletic in the final year of his contract.

It wasn’t completely surprising Jed Steer was loaned out following the arrivals of Ørjan Nyland and André Moreira in the goalkeeper position. Jed Steer, last season’s deputy to Sam Johnstone, waited patiently for his time to come as Villa’s No. 1.

That time never came, even as Steer entered pre-season training as the nominal starter.

It never occurred years earlier, either.

Six years and nine appearances since his arrival, Steer departs for Charlton Athletic in the final year of his deal.

The funny thing about Steer is that every time he featured for Villa, he excelled.

In May 2015, Steer appeared in his only Premier League match for Villa, a 1-0 loss to Burnley. A season loaned out to then-Championship side Huddersfield Town showed his capabilities in England’s second division. Aston Villa’s relegation was supposed to be Steer’s chance at claiming the No. 1 jersey. That didn’t happen, as Roberto Di Matteo made Italian youth international Pierluigi Gollini a priority signing. Mark Bunn arrived from Norwich City a year earlier – Steer’s old club. Six months later, Steve Bruce was appointed and brought in his own option, Sam Johnstone.

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The injuries crept in for Steer. He suffered the worst injury in all of sports that autumn: the dreaded achilles tear. Nearly a year of recovery and Steer entered this previous season as the No. 2 to a re-acquired Johnstone.

He played well, even if he didn’t play often. Wins over Colchester United and Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup acted as his much-delayed Aston Villa showcase. Even in defeat, such as a third round loss to Middlesbrough, Jed Steer excelled. Villa exited early in the FA Cup, a 3-1 defeat to Peterborough. But again, Steer played well.

The ultimatum, however, followed with the post-game press conference.

Steer had separated his shoulder and would miss the remainder of the campaign. Subsequently, Steer missed all the highs and lows as Aston Villa fought for promotion. He missed the final league match where Mark Bunn started in his place, he missed the play-off semi-finals, he missed defeat at the hands of Fulham.

It was those injuries that derailed his promising Aston Villa career. Now, in the final year of his contract, Steer was loaned to Charlton, where he instantly (?) becomes League One’s best shot-stopper. Effectively, his Aston Villa career is likely over.

If he stays healthy for an extended amount of time, the sky really is the limit for a player who only ever excelled in the claret and blue.

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