Villa knock-out blow to have knock-on effect...
VILLA’S exit from the FA Cup will have a knock-on effect. A number of youngsters and fringe players were given the chance to impress but failed miserably in the 3-1 home defeat to Peterborough.
And with three weeks of the transfer window remaining, it’s likely players will be shipped out on loan, or even permanently, if Villa receive suitable offers.
There is big interest in some of their exciting youngsters.
Lower-league clubs enquired about Keinan Davis last summer but boss Steve Bruce wanted to keep him around. He’ll be staying put after an impressive first half of the season.
But decisions must now be made on the likes of James Bree, Callum O’Hare and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
There’s a reluctance from Bruce to let them go. All three have been involved in matchday action in recent weeks and are seen as the future of the club.
O’Hare, in particular, has kicked on this term and is on the fringes of the first team.
Hepburn-Murphy has struggled with injuries but is now available and ready to start making an impact.
“Ideally we’d like to let some of our youngsters go out on loan,” said Bruce. “But not for three or four months.
“I wouldn’t mind letting them go for a month or so because that would be good for them. But we can’t do that any more.
“When they go for so long you can’t keep a close eye on their development, and you have to ask the question: Would they be better staying?”
That’s what Bruce must weigh up. His phone has been ringing with enquiries about his youngsters but the ones in and around the squad will be staying.
He will also need to consider the future of some his fringe players. Ritchie De Laet played in the cup defeat at right-back and did OK going forward. He has been knocking on the door and is desperate for regular gametime, just like Tommy Elphick, who had to watch from the sidelines after stepping into the team during the hectic Christmas period. But with four right-backs at the club, gametime is limited and potential suitors have been sniffing around to see whether he’s available this month. Elphick wants to be playing every week, too. He trains as hard as ever, leads the group like he’s a captain, and celebrates a league win like he’s won the cup. But with John Terry now back, he’ll be demoted to the bench, so a move could be on the cards. One youngster who is likely to leave on loan is Easah Suliman. He didn’t even make the bench for Saturday’s shock defeat at Villa Park and will need to continue his development elsewhere, it seems.
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Tony Pulis is looking into a potential move for Villa defender Alan Hutton.
The 33-year-old right-back is out of contract in the summer and it remains to be seen whether the Scotland international will be offered a new deal.
Hutton has made more than 150 appearances in his six-and-a-half seasons at Villa, despite spending spells on loan at Nottingham Forest, Real Mallorca and Bolton Wanderers in that time.
It is understood SPL side Aberdeen are also interested in the player.
Pulis, the former Albion boss who was appointed as successor to Garry Monk at the Riverside on Boxing Day, suffered defeat to Villa in his first game in charge but has won the two following matches.
Meanwhile, Ross McCormack will consider extending his stay at Melbourne City after taking his goal tally into double figures at the weekend.
The 31-year-old Scot is due to leave on January 25 but discussions are in place between the two clubs to prolong his stay.