Aaron: It’s all about getting back to enjoying the game
AARON Tshibola says his motivation to play football was the greatest factor behind his switch to League One side MK Dons.
The midfielder, who joined Villa for £5million from Reading last summer, linked up with the Dons on a season-long loan last week after being told he wouldn’t feature in Steve Bruce’s first team this season.
Despite being 22, Tshibola has only played 52 professional matches and almost half of those arrived during a loan spell with Hartlepool in League Two.
“I feel like, at this time of my career, games are the most important thing for me. It was a tough one for me last season and now it’s just about getting back to enjoying my football and playing regularly,” said Tshibola.
“I met the manager and he was ambitious – he sold the club to me. They match my ambitions and I feel like it’s the perfect place for me to be right now.
“MK Dons has always been a club that’s done well. There have been a lot of good young players who have come through the Academy and there have been a lot of loan players who have come here and done well – the gaffer mentioned to me that I could be the same if I come here, get my head down and work hard.”
The midfielder was used sparingly by Roberto Di Matteo at the beginning of last season but did score his first and only professional goal to date with a late equaliser against Newcastle in September.
But Di Matteo’s sacking and Bruce’s arrival in October saw him quickly frozen out of the first team before a loan move to Nottingham Forest in January proved unsuccessful.
Tshibola will get the minutes he needs in League One and will be closely monitored by Villa’s loan manager Tommy Mooney.