WhyVilla must give teen striker his chance
Football Editor Mat Kendrick reckons teenage hot-shot would benefit from a loan spell in the lower leagues – providing he signs a contract extension
ASTON Villa should let Rushian Hepburn-Murphy go – but only for a short spell. ‘In a rush’ is an anagram of his first name and Hepburn-Murphy is clearly in a rush to make his mark in the senior game, having consistently showcased his exciting potential for the younger age groups.
It would be great to see the 18-year-old striker given some substitute cameos with the senior squad this season, but right now he seems to have fallen down the pecking order.
To further complicate matters, Hepburn-Murphy is out of contract at the end of the season and, alive to his ability, a host of clubs – including Rangers and Watford – have already started circling.
Now we’ve had academy strikers burst on to the scene in previous seasons, only to fail to live up to the hype with varying degrees of disappointment.
Nathan Delfouneso is probably the most telling recent example of a rising star who faded quickly and it took an unremarkable display for Swindon Town in their televised FA Cup draw at Eastleigh last Friday to remind many observers he was still in the game. But the Bodymoor Heath academy coaches have high hopes for Hepburn-Murphy. Villa need to be very careful they don’t lose his talent for good.
With Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack, Jordan Ayew, Albert Adomah, Jack Grealish, Rudy Gestede and, now, Gabby Agbonlahor in front of him in the forward queue, Hepburn-Murphy’s immediate opportunities at Villa look set to remain limited.
However, there is no need for him to kick his heels on the sidelines.
In January, Villa should seriously consider sending him out on loan to gain first-team experience, providing he commits his long-term future to the club, of course.
If contract talks are still ongoing when the transfer window re-opens, he won’t be moving anywhere.
A successful loan spell would only increase interest from elsewhere and Villa are desperate to keep hold of the youngster who has been at the club for the past 10 years.
Should he follow the likes of Harry McKirdy and Kevin Toner in signing an extension, a subsequent loan spell in League One or Two would be a useful gauge of just how equipped he is for men’s football. If he tears up the lower leagues then by all means fast-track him to the Villa first team. If he struggles – and I don’t think he will – then let him smooth off his rough edges elsewhere.
If Villa aren’t ready to use him regularly then rather than risk driving him away by limiting him to youth and reserve-team football, why not challenge him and improve him by letting him go and play for a cause?
I would prefer him to be eased into action at Villa right now, but we have to respect the judgment of Steve Bruce, a manager who rates Hepburn-Murphy enough to have had a productive sit-down with the player’s parents last week.
Bruce has been in the game long enough to know how to structure a youngster’s development, so the boss will be doing his utmost to ensure Villa don’t lose him for good. Who knows, when Kodjia and Ayew are away on international duty at the African Cup of Nations in January, Hepburn-Murphy’s chance might come then.
The priority right now is keeping him at the club. And then a loan move should be considered.