Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic has insisted that he is ready to fight for a starting berth at the club, and acknowledges that he must earn it.
The 18-year-old was signed from Red Star Belgrade in January, but subsequently returned to the Serbian giants for the second half of last season on loan.
READ MORE: Personal terms agreed as Villa ace edges closer to departure
With just 20 appearances for the senior side to his name, the talented youngster is still inexperienced and has plenty of development still to come, but Villa have evidently seen something in him that they like, and believe he’ll be an important part of Unai Emery’s squad for the long-term future.
Particularly given our lack of competition and depth at right-back, it’s an area in which we needed to bring in a reinforcement this summer, and amid speculation over Matty Cash’s future at Villa, there may very well be an opening for Nedeljkovic to stake his claim to become our first-choice option in that position moving forward.
There’s a lot to like about his attitude and determination in the interview below, as although he sets his stall out by insisting that he intends on being a starter for us next season, he is more than ready to earn his place and prove that he deserves to be given that responsibility immediately, or if it’s decided that he needs experience elsewhere first, he’s ready for that scenario too.
Time will tell what Emery and his coaching staff make of him when they’re able to analyse and assess him closely over pre-season, but it promises to be a key period for the young Serbian talent, as he’ll be itching to join up with the squad and adapt to the new demands made of him.
“I believe that I will be able to fight [for my place at] Aston Villa, just like I did in Zvezda,” he told Nogomania. “I always give my best and I think it will pay off. I have always done excellent training, now there is a tour to America, so we will see how it goes.
“I expect to be in the starting 11 from August. If I am in the team at all, it will really be a success and if I enter the Premier League. In Belgrade, I have two or three training sessions a day, I train to always get better. I want to be at a higher level, to the maximum, so that I could show myself at training and cement my place. Wherever the loan is [if he is loaned out], I have no problem with that. Ideally, I would be there [at Villa].
“If it happens, I don’t have a problem with that. Whatever happens, I need to play. If it’s Aston Villa, it will be a great success. I’m ready and I believe I’ll play right away. I’m not thinking about not being there. If it doesn’t happen, it’s up to me to play and progress, so wherever.”
Meanwhile, he was also asked about Emery and the infrastructure at Villa, and evidently he was left very impressed with what he saw as he should be relishing the opportunity to learn from the Basque coach as he’ll no doubt play a fundamental role in his development in the coming years.
“What I have seen in the past month is that he [Emery] is a great professional. I have never seen such dedication anywhere. He draws for the players in the gym where they should go while they are working, on the field he also draws everything himself and shows. He does all the analysis. When I was injured, gym at 9am, then therapy in the afternoon. When I used to come to the stadium at 6pm, he’s still there from 8am. That was fascinating to me, that 12 hours is so dedicated.
“I was speechless [about the training ground]. They built it almost, renovated it three, four years ago. Twenty courts, a spa center, dentists…many offices, a basketball court in the hall. The highest level.”
There was also a nice touch in the interview with Nogomania, as when asked about which team was his favourite in the Premier League, the teenager gave the ideal answer: “Of course, Aston Villa.”
As noted above, time will tell if Cash is still at the club by the end of the summer as speculation is linking him with a move to Italy, while Kaine Kesler-Hayden will be looking to use the experience he gained in the second half of last season having been drafted into the senior squad to push on and challenge Nedeljkovic.
Those are two young options though at right-back with not a lot of top-level playing time and experience between them, and so it will be fascinating to see how that department looks come the end of the summer transfer window and if we’ll move to replace Cash.