Aston Villa right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden is back in training at Bodymoor Heath after being recalled from his loan spell at Plymouth.
The 21-year-old was sent out for his latest loan stint last summer and went on to make 27 appearances for Plymouth in all competitions, as he continues his development after impressing at youth level for us.
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However, he was recalled this month from the season-long agreement, and as per Pilgrims boss Ian Foster, the indication was that Kesler-Hayden would return to Villa and fight for his place, rather than be shipped out to a different club in another loan move.
As seen in his post on Twitter below, the talented Villa youngster has confirmed that he’s now back at Bodymoor Heath for training, and so it remains to be seen how involved he’ll be between now and the end of the season.
Kesler-Hayden made a big impression for the Villa U21s and below as he went on to lift the FA Youth Cup in 2021, and subsequently emerged as one of our top Academy talents.
There’s high hopes for the right-back as he boasts real talent and potential, but there was concern that after a string of loan moves, he could ultimately depart on a permanent basis without having had a chance to break into the senior Villa squad.
Based on Foster’s comments and the fact that he’s now back training with Villa, it all points toward him being given an opportunity to impress Unai Emery and stake his claim for a spot in his squad moving forward.
The Villa boss conceded in his pre-Everton press conference earlier this month that Calum Chambers is free to leave the club, and so should he find a solution that suits all parties, we’ll need another option to add competition and cover behind Matty Cash at right-back.
We do of course have Ezri Konsa as an option to shift across and he’s done an excellent job when needed, but ultimately he is at his best in his preferred position as a centre-half, and so Kesler-Hayden could fill that void if Chambers does move on.
Further, Villa confirmed the signing of Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade this week, and so the 18-year-old will add more competition in that department from the summer onwards. As a result, it’s an important period for those currently available to Emery to make an impression and secure their place at the top of the pecking order.
With Villa still chasing a top-four finish in the Premier League and looking to advance in the FA Cup and Europa Conference League, depth will be needed. In turn, we may well see Kesler-Hayden get his chance to shine.
— Kaine Kesler (@KaineKeslerHayd) January 24, 2024
