Aston Villa: Scotland inquire about the availability of Jed Steer

Could Aston Villa Football Club have a third international ‘keeper amongst their ranks?

Fresh off play-off heroics and a monster second-half to the season, Aston Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer is turning heads from plenty of folks. The unlikely No. 1 is among the clubs’s more interesting storylines this season.

After years of toiling away on the bench, complete with several loan moves, the 26-year-old played a major factor in Villa’s reaching of the Championship play-off final for a second consecutive year.

With that, comes more publicity. Leaders of the Scotland FA have been ‘alerted’ to the fact that Steer is eligible to represent the team in competition. Steer, a former England under-16 and under-19 international, would be required to file a one-time switch with FIFA.

Allan McGregor was Scotland’s long-time No. 1 ‘keeper, but his retirement from international duty complicated issues in the team. Celtic’s Scott Bain received the nod in recent games, but he isn’t exactly penned in as the future starter. Behind him are Livingston’s Liam Kelly and Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin. Together, the trio have just four caps to their collective names. It’s possible – likely, even – that Jed Steer would represent a massive upgrade to the goalkeeper pool.

For a team with young talent aplenty, landing a decent player in an area of need would be a huge get:

Should Steer agree to switch allegiances, and subsequently receive a call-up, he would become Aston Villa’s third international goalkeeper after Ørjan Nyland (Norway’s deputy) and Lovre Kalinic (Croatia’s No. 1).

What does it mean for Villa? Not much, but it’s flattering news for a player that remained patient for so many years and took advantage of his opportunity in net. Now, he and the club await Derby County in the upcoming play-off final.