Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has praised a trio of youngsters currently out on loan, as he prepares to make big decisions on their respective futures in the summer.
The Spanish tactician has overseen and inspired a brilliant turnaround since he was appointed, and he’ll undoubtedly be backed by the club in the summer transfer market to strengthen the squad further.
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While that is a vital part of the process of becoming more competitive and challenging for trophies, there is a balance needed too in terms of allowing the talented young players at Villa to come through and get opportunities at senior level.
In an attempt to secure a long-term future at the club, the likes of Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Tim Iroegbunam were all sent out on loan in the Championship this season to gain experience and develop their respective games, and it certainly sounds as though they’ve caught the eye of the Villa boss.
“The plan [with Archer] was to play in the Championship every week, or three matches a week,” Emery told BirminghamLive. “In the Championship they play a lot of matches and get experience and get minutes and try to expose him with his best performances.
“This is very good for him, very good for us as well as a club, and at the end of the season of course we are going to decide (what happens next).
“As well, all the players that are out on loan. It is not only him, (Aaron) Ramsey as well is playing very well, Tim (Iroegbunam), he is playing very well as well. There are other players out on loan that we have been following and we have analysed each one and take decisions for the next months.”
Archer, 21, has nine goals and six assists in 18 appearances for Middlesbrough, while Ramsey, 20, has five goals and one assist in 11 outings for them, while he also impressed on loan at Norwich City earlier in the campaign too.
As for Iroegbunam, 19, he has racked up 30 appearances in QPR’s league campaign so far this season, and he will undoubtedly have benefited significantly from that as he looks to improve and mature.
Time will tell if the trio all get the chance to impress Emery over the summer in pre-season, and off the back of that then stay with the senior squad next season, or if the possibility of moving elsewhere on loan or perhaps even permanently becomes the ultimate outcome agreed upon by all parties.
It’s a crossroads window for them, but given the ability and potential that they have coupled with the desire to see more of Villa’s youth players make it through to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Jacob Ramsey, it would be great to see them make it and play a key role in our ultimate objective of competing on multiple fronts moving forward.
I think that what next season holds for these young players will be effected by any new established signings that may come in and drop them down the pecking order. Starting in the Premiere League is the target, but not getting the steady playing time will not help their development. Patience is a vulture, and having their names ringing out from the supporters in Championship grounds should be quite a honor. If they are indeed the cream,they will rise to the top.